His club calls him the “most iconic goalkeeper in Kampong history. Words that the modest David Harte himself will never utter. After thirteen seasons in Utrecht, the 36-year-old Irish goalkeeper is closing the door behind him and moving to Belfast. ‘I now say Utereg, with a hard G.’
In the middle of the conversation, Harte grabs his phone. It is about half an hour after he lost the topper with Kampong against Rotterdam (2-1). He opens his mailbox in the hallway of Rotterdam’s clubhouse and within seconds has found what he was looking for. A sent e-mail from the summer of 2010.
‘My open application. I sent this mail to all premier league clubs as a young goalkeeper. I wanted so badly to join a Dutch club. To develop myself in the best league in the world. Of course I never thought it would be so beautiful. I have read this email back many times. Because I must never forget how this all started.’
Harte in the lineup at Kampong-Rotterdam. Photo: Willem Vernes
Blushing after words of praise
Of course, Harte tells all this in Dutch. A language he has been fluent in for so long. And yes, his email had an effect. SCHC, at the time also fighting relegation, picked up the goalkeeper. ‘After two years I heard that the goalkeeper from Kampong was leaving. So I was bold and sent Alexander Cox – who was coaching at the time – a message via Facebook. And the rest is history.’
Of course he was honored when he read the praise for him. ‘But it’s also a little uncomfortable somewhere. It made me blush. I prefer to hide under my helmet then, haha. I read the message on LinkedIn and saw that other names came up immediately. Mr . Sikking , for example, who was in the Olympics twice in the 1970s. He is a true Kampong legend.’
Harte has become one, too. The Irishman stepped in at a time when Kampong was still climbing. After a lot of lean years, they had made it to the playoffs in Utrecht in 2012. Harte joined in the following summer and the blue brigade grew into an outright top team. Three times (2017, 2018 and 2024) the goalkeeper became national champions with Kampong. In 2016, they won the EHL.
Harte during his first big league months at SCHC. Photo: Willem Vernes
From quiet boy to outright star
‘When I was allowed to come to SCHC in 2010, I had no idea where my future lay. I was 22, just graduated in Ireland. Thought this was a great adventure to embark on. After a few years this really felt like home. I became more and more of a Dutchman.’ Or rather, a Utrechtian. Harte has lived there for fifteen years. Married in the cathedral city, his two daughters were born there. He made more and more Dutch friends, started working at – nota bene – FC Utrecht. ‘By now I even say Utereg, with a hard G.’
The past few years shaped him. Turned a quiet, sometimes slightly insecure boy into an outright star who was twice named best goalkeeper in the world. ‘I came here as someone from a C field hockey country,’ Harte says. ‘That’s how my teammates used to look at Ireland. But even as someone from a minor field hockey country, you can make an impact. Not just by ‘doing your job’ on the field. But also by making yourself heard. I used to do that much less. I gained more and more self-confidence, although maybe that also has to do with age.’
‘Because of my time in the Netherlands I also became more open. I had to. I played with my twin brother Conor at SCHC for two years. After that I started visiting people a lot more often. I took more initiative. Going out for a beer with guests or playing a game of bocce at Kampong. That is a bit awkward at first, but later the bond grows. I am proud to have won awards with my best friends that I have here.’
After winning the 2017 Playoff final. Photo: Willem Vernes
‘Kampong’s most important purchase ever’
Those mates had a nice surprise in store for Harte. He was recently a guest in a sports program on RTV Utrecht. In it a few (former) teammates, such as Constantijn Jonker and Sander de Wijn, were allowed to tell something nice about the goalkeeper. ‘I had to do my best not to cry. Loved hearing those guys so much. Connie called me Kampong’s most important acquisition ever. So honorable. I sat there with goose bumps on my arms. Was totally amazed.’
But so that loving partnership between Kampong and Harte comes to an end after this season. ‘I told the club two months ago that I am not an option for next season,’ says Harte. He clears his throat for a moment. ‘It hurt to speak that out. We are moving with our family to Belfast, in Northern Ireland. The city where my wife Lyn is from. This is the time to make a move. My eldest daughter is going to elementary school there next season.’
He sighs. ‘It was already a puzzle last year, heading into the Olympics. Even longer from home, even more arranging.’ Laughs, ‘You know I missed a couple of Pro League games because we didn’t have a babysitter. You shouldn’t want a situation like that for too long. That’s why it’s good now. More space. More time together. And more family around.
Papa Harte with a new gold plaque in 2024. Photo: Willem Vernes
The future
In short, family life in the Harte home is now number one. ‘After that comes my life as a goalkeeper. I am still an Irish international. And I would also like to continue with club field hockey. In what way I don’t know yet. I can’t combine life in Belfast with top field hockey in the Netherlands. The season is also too long for that. I don’t rule out another foreign adventure, if that also combines with home.’
First, of course, Harte hopes for a glorious end. Ending with an EHL cup or championship trophy in hand would be a fairytale ending to his boyhood book in the Netherlands. ‘That would be wonderful. However it ends, I have made friendships here for life. And that counts more for me than all the cups and titles together.’
by Hockey.nl
