Mark Gleghorne
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Mark Gleghorne (born 19 May 1985) is a field hockey player from Northern Ireland who has represented Ireland, England and Great Britain at international level. He represented Great Britain at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Gleghorne was a member of the England teams that won the bronze medals at the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games and at the 2017 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship. He also represented England at the 2014 and 2018 Men's Hockey World Cups. At club level, Gleghorne was a member of the Instonians team that won the Irish Senior Cup in both 2002 and 2004. He was also a member of the Punjab Warriors team that won the 2016 Hockey India League title.
Early years, family and education
Gleghorne was born into a field hockey family. His father, Andy, was a player and club secretary at Antrim Hockey Club while his mother, Anne, played with and coached Randalstown. Anne Gleghorne died in 2003. His younger brother, Paul, is an Ireland international. Two of his aunts, Margaret Gleghorne and Jackie McWilliams, were also Ireland and Great Britain women's internationals. Between 1996 and 2003 he attended Royal Belfast Academical Institution. Between 2004 and 2007 he attended Loughborough University and gained a degree in Sport Science. He is also a qualified PE teacher. In addition to field hockey, in his youth Gleghorne played association football, rugby union and cricket. He played cricket for Muckamore Cricket Club and was also member of Ireland teams that won under-15 and under-17 European championships in 2000 and 2001. His teammates included, among others, Eoin Morgan, William Porterfield, Kevin O'Brien, Boyd Rankin and Gary Wilson.
Domestic teams
RBAI
In 2002–03 Gleghorne captained the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team that won the Burney Cup and finished as runners-up in the All Ireland Schoolboys Hockey Championship. His teammates included Michael Watt.
Instonians
Gleghorne began playing for Instonians while still attending RBAI. His teammates at Instonians included his brother, Paul. Gleghorne was a member of the Instonians team that won the Irish Senior Cup in both 2002 and 2004. In the 2002 final, against Pembroke Wanderers, he scored a bizarre goal. His shot was originally going wide before it rebounded off an umpire. In the 2004 final Instonians defeated Cork Harlequins. After graduating from Loughborough University, he re-joined Instonians for the 2008–09 season. While playing for Instonians, Gleghorne also represented Ulster at interprovincial level.
Men's England Hockey League
Gleghorne has played for several clubs in the Men's England Hockey League. While attending Loughborough University between 2004 and 2007, he played for Loughborough Students' Hockey Club. After spending the 2009–10 season playing for HC Den Bosch in the Hoofdklasse, he re-joined Loughborough. He subsequently joined East Grinstead, representing the club in the 2014–15 Euro Hockey League. In 2015 he moved to Beeston. In 2019 he started playing for Holcombe.
Hockey India League
Gleghorne has also played in the Hockey India League. In 2014 he played for Mumbai Magicians. At the 2014 auction he was initially selected as a replacement. However, due to injuries he was subsequently called up to play the season. He loved playing in India because of the nice weather The 2016 and 2017 seasons saw him play for Punjab Warriors. He helped Warriors win the 2016 title.
International
Ireland
Between 2004 and 2008 Gleghorne made 80 senior appearances for Ireland. He was a member of the Ireland team that won the 2005 Men's EuroHockey Nations Trophy. He also represented Ireland at the 2006 Men's Intercontinental Cup and at the 2007 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship. At the 2008 Men's Field Hockey Olympic Qualifier he finished the tournament as top scorer. In 2009 Gleghorne informed the Irish Hockey Association that he was switching allegiances from Ireland to England/Great Britain.
Great Britain
Having previously played for Ireland, Gleghorne had to wait for three years before he was eligible to play for Great Britain. He eventually made his debut for Great Britain in November 2011, scoring in a 3–1 win against Belgium. He subsequently represented Great Britain at the 2016 Summer Olympics and when they won the 2017 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.
England
Gleghorne was a member of the England teams that won the bronze medals at the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games. He was also a member of the England team that won the bronze at the 2017 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship, scoring in the third place play-off against Germany. Gleghorne also represented England at the 2014 and 2018 Men's Hockey World Cups.
Source:
Honours
- Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Winners: 2017
- Men's Four Nations Cup Runners up: 2016
- Men's Hockey Investec Cup Winners: 2014
- Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Runners up: 2018
- Hockey Champions Trophy Runners up: 2012
- Men's EuroHockey Nations Trophy Winners: 2005
- Hockey India League Winners: 2016: 1
- Irish Senior Cup Winners: 2001–02, 2003–04: 2
- Burney Cup Winners: 2002–03: 1
- All Ireland Schoolboys Hockey Championship Runners up: 2002–03: 1
External links
- at the International Hockey Federation
- at Team GB
- at Team England
- at the Commonwealth Games Federation (archived)
- at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (archived)
- at Olympedia