I wanted a new challenge and a new opportunity to make an impact in a new league: David Harte

Ireland’s 36-year-old goalkeeper David Harte was a pillar of strength for the Tamil Nadu Dragons in the 2025-26 Hockey India League (HIL), producing a series of outstanding saves during regulation time as well as in shoot-outs.

A vastly experienced campaigner with over 240 international caps, Harte has featured in domestic leagues in Ireland, the Netherlands, India and Germany, bringing a wealth of knowledge to every team he represents. Speaking to The Hindu, the Irish goalkeeper, who announced his international retirement on Thursday, reflected on his move to a German club this season, his experiences playing in “incredible India,” and the importance of sharing his expertise with younger players.

“I wanted a new challenge, a new opportunity to make an impact on a new group and in a new league — to travel around Germany, play different clubs, and experience different playing styles,” Harte said. Comparing HIL with the Malaysian league, where he previously played, Harte noted similarities in structure. “I would compare HIL’s structure and set-up a little closer to the league in Malaysia, which is played during the winter breaks. I played there for the University of Kuala Lumpur for three seasons. The HIL and the Malaysian league are shorter, with matches coming closer together, whereas the domestic leagues I played in Ireland, the Netherlands and Germany are longer,” he explained. Excerpts

It was your fifth HIL. Very few have played five HIL editions before you. As a senior goalkeeper of Tamil Nadu Dragons and one who has played for long in India, how was the experience?

It was fabulous. As a senior player in the team, it’s also about trying to recognise the position and the role you have within a group. Can you have an impact on that group and can you have a positive presence within the team? Can you bring experience of having played in five HILs?

Can you show that to the junior players who are coming through? Can I do that with young and promising goalkeeper Prince Deep Singh as my deputy here as well. I will try and help to develop him to become one of the best goalkeepers of the Indian National team.

When I calculated all months and weeks of competitions in the Hockey India League, with tournaments representing Ireland, like the World Cup and the World League, I think I’ve spent maybe close to a year and a half of my life in total in incredible India. It’s a country that I can’t keep away from.

Any player from Tamil Nadu Dragons who impressed you this season?

Prince Deep as a goalkeeper has made impressive strides and being the quality person who he is, he open to helping the group, helping the team. He’s been one to watch out for. Forward Uttam Singh really impressed with dedication, his drive, and his want to be better as a player and he’s also a fabulous human being. All those things combined make it a brilliant package deal.

You have played in leagues in Ireland, The Netherlands, and now in Germany. In what way HIL differs from the other leagues?

I would compare HIL’s structure and set-up probably a little bit closer to the league in Malaysia, which is played during the winter breaks. I played there for the University of Kuala Lumpur for three seasons. One of them was with my roommate Sander De Wijn, who is now with us at TN Dragons. I think the HIL and Malaysian league are just shorter, matches come a little bit closer together whereas the domestic leagues that I played in Ireland and in the Netherlands, and also the one in Germany, all start in September, maybe through to November. Then, a winter break, you’ll start up again in March, you’ll finish in the playoffs hopefully sometime in May-June.

How are you able to maintain peak reflexes and agility while playing at the highest level?

You have to put in a lot of time and a lot of dedication to your work. You have to have a supporting family, a very supporting wife, like in my case. And let’s be honest, if you speak to anyone else also approaching the age, I think Vincent Vanasch, Belgium goalkeeper playing for JSW Soorma HC in HIL, he will say it does get a bit tougher as the years go on. But if you still have the same kind of fire burning inside you and the same motivation and goal sets, then that’s what drives you and gives you energy in the mornings and late evenings when you’re on the turf. And that’s currently the same situation for me.

What has experience at the highest level taught you?

As you age, you have a little bit more trust and belief in yourself. So, basically what you can do is you can spend time on helping and coaching others. And that’s certainly what I try and aim to do, guide the players around me. It doesn’t matter if it’s a young junior international with zero caps or the likes of Sander or Amit Rohidas with over 200 international games and Olympic medals. That’s what you do at the back as a goalkeeper. You try to be a pillar of strength for them as a goalkeeper; and it doesn’t matter if you’re playing in the Dutch league or elsewhere.

Why did you quit SV Kampong, a top division Dutch club after 13 long years?

I have recently joined a German club, HTC Uhlenhorst Mülheim. The choice behind it was family. My eldest daughter was going to primary school. It was time potentially to be more focused towards family. As I said, after 13 years, it was time to return home to our homeland. My wife is from Belfast, a city in Northern Ireland. Our eldest daughter was starting her schooling at the beginning of this year in a primary school. And my wife in particular was eager to get home to family and be closer to friends. And I said, that was no problem. I knew I wasn’t done with hockey yet. So, a German club reached out and ended up signing me with Moritz Ludwig, a teammate from the Hockey India League last season. I wanted a new challenge, a new opportunity to make an impact on a new group and in a new league, travel around Germany, play in different clubs, play with different styles of teammates.

How has the shift to the German club been?

It has been quite hectic. I train locally on Tuesday with the local Irish team. I then fly on a Thursday and stay until Sunday with my German club, Ullenhorst Mulheim. Yes, one particular reason was that it was a shorter competition. And less time away from family and less travelling.

German league started in the first week of September and will finish in May-June. It’s very intense, though. That way, I could combine my role and my life as a father back here to help out my wife and be with my two daughters.

How do you mentor young goalkeepers, both in Ireland and in leagues in Germany, Dutch and India?

I just recall like many goalkeepers that have been before me who have passed on a lot of information and knowledge and have helped me big time in my career. And that’s something I would try to do for the younger goalkeepers moving forward. It’s also a great way to have a good impact on them and to connect at a deeper level, because not everybody really understands what it’s like until you’re actually there standing under the crossbar and experiencing the pressure of being a goalkeeper.

How much has the role of goalkeepers evolved since your early days?

I think it’s like logically with anything that goes, you just become a little bit more experienced, perhaps, maybe a bit more of a common figure. And I think also with that, you just become a lot more trusting and comfortable with yourself as a person and individual. And that really helps a lot to be able to try and nurture and develop other goalkeepers and players around you. You try to instill confidence in them as well.

How do you manage pressure situations during shootouts at high-stake tournaments?

I think you believe in the training that you’ve done and the experiences that you have been through and seeing the opportunity that you have to make a difference. You see it as a positive rather than a pressure moment. Like I’ve always said, as a goalkeeper, you might have an opportunity to be the hero where I often think the pressure was usually on the taker. They perhaps only have that one opportunity and those eight seconds to make a difference.

Which one remains your most memorable tournament?

Personally, it was my last tournament, the Paris Olympics in 2024. It was just the five incredibly tough games, but probably the most consistent matches that I had ever played at that level. And the most relaxed and the best feeling I had. And having my two daughters with my wife and family in the stands watching are moments I’ll cherish forever and certainly never forget.