{{Short description|British field hockey player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Use British English|date=August 2012}} {{Infobox field hockey player |name=Barry Middleton |image=150px |birth_date={{Birth date and age|1984|1|12|df=yes}} |birth_place=Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England |height=1.76 m |weight=70 kg |position=Midfielder |clubs1=Cannock |years1=2002–2006 |caps1=30 |goals1=38 |clubs2 =HGC |years2=2007–2011 |caps2= |goals2= |clubs3=East Grinstead |years3=2011–2012 |caps3=4 |goals3=5 |clubs4= Der Club an der Alster |years4=2012–2013 |caps4= |goals4= |clubs5=Holcombe |years5=2013–2024 |caps5=29 |goals5=27 |clubs6=Ranchi Rays |years6=2015 |caps6=3 |goals6= |clubs7=Surbiton |years7=2024–2026 |caps7= |goals7= |nationalteam1=England & GB |nationalyears1=2003–2018 |nationalcaps1=432 |nationalgoals1=120 | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's field hockey}} {{MedalCountry|{{ENG}}}} {{MedalCompetition|Commonwealth Games}} {{MedalBronze|2018 Gold Coast|Team}} {{MedalCompetition|European Championships}} {{MedalBronze | 2003 Barcelona | Team }} {{MedalBronze|2017 Amsterdam|Team}} {{MedalComp | World League }} {{MedalBronze | 2014 New Delhi | Team }} }}
'''Barry John Middleton''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}} (born 12 January 1984) is a British field hockey player. He played as a midfielder and forward for England and Great Britain and is the most capped British hockey player in history and captained his country for many years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.englandhockey.co.uk/player.asp?itemid=23&itemTitle=Barry+Middleton§ion=44|title=Barry Middleton - England Hockey|website=englandhockey.co.uk}}</ref>
Middleton was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to hockey.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=62866|supp=y|page=N20|date=28 December 2019}}</ref>
== Biography == Middleton played club hockey for Cannock in the Men's England Hockey League and while at the club made his international debut, aged 19, in April 2003 against Belgium and was a member of the Great Britain squad that finished ninth at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/hockey/3903827.stm |title=GB name hockey squad |website=BBC Sport |date=17 July 2004 |access-date=24 May 2025}}</ref> He represented England at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/708770.surbiton_seven_in_medals_quest/ |title=Surbiton seven in medals quest |website=Surrey Comet |date=16 March 2006 |access-date=24 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://teamengland.org/commonwealth-games-history/melbourne-2006/athletes |title=Melbourne 2006 Team |website=Team England |access-date=24 May 2025 }}</ref>
After moving from Cannock to Dutch club HGC he participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He was part of the England squad that won the 2009 Eurohockey Nations Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greatbritainhockey.co.uk/player.asp?itemid=23&itemTitle=Barry+Middleton§ion=1091|title=Barry Middleton - GB Hockey|work=GB Hockey|access-date=2013-04-20|archive-date=9 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109153440/http://www.greatbritainhockey.co.uk/player.asp?itemid=23&itemTitle=Barry+Middleton§ion=1091|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was named in the International Hockey Federation's All-Star team in 2008, 2009 and 2010, and was shortlisted for 'Player of the Year' in those three years.<ref name=":0" /> He also played in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/hockey/mantells-go-back-india-england-4301547 |title=Mantells go back to India with England |website=Berkshire Live |date=25 August 2010 |access-date=22 May 2025}}</ref>
Middleton was playing for East Grinstead when he was selected to captain Great Britain at his third Olympic Games, playing in the 2012 men's tournament in London.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/18614139 |title=London 2012: GB confirms its men's hockey squad |website=GBR Athletics |date=27 June 2012 |access-date=22 May 2025}}</ref>
On 24 May 2014 he became the most capped English hockey international when he played his 308th international game. (203 for England, 105 for Great Britain). The match was against Australia at Bisham Abbey, Berkshire. The previous record holder was Russell Garcia with 307 GB/England caps.<ref>{{cite web|title=Middleton breaks GB/England hockey caps record|url=http://www.pushhockey.co.uk/articles/2014/05/24/middleton-breaks-gbengland-hockey-caps-record|work=Push Hockey|access-date=2014-05-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehockeypaper.co.uk/articles/2014/05/24/middleton-breaks-gbengland-hockey-caps-record |title=Barry Middleton breaks GB/England hockey caps record |website=The Hockey Paper |date=24 May 2014 |access-date=12 June 2025}}</ref>
He also captained the England squad that won bronze at the 2014 Commonwealth Games<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://results.glasgow2014.com/athlete/hockey/1023978/b_middleton.html|title=Glasgow 2014 - Barry Middleton Profile|work=glasgow2014.com|access-date=2014-11-04|archive-date=8 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808154429/http://results.glasgow2014.com/athlete/hockey/1023978/b_middleton.html|url-status=usurped}}</ref> and represented Great Britain at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/olympics/news/29876/10327204/team-gb-name-hockey-squads-for-summer-olympics-in-rio |title=Team GB name hockey squads for summer Olympics in Rio |website=Sky Sports |date=28 June 2016 |access-date=17 May 2025}}</ref>
On 4 December 2017 he played his 400th international match. (255 for England, 145 for Great Britain). The match was against Australia in the 2016–17 Men's FIH Hockey World League Final, Bhubaneswar, India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.englandhockey.co.uk/news.asp?itemid=42717&itemTitle=Barry+Middleton:+400+Not+Out§ion=22|title=Barry Middleton: 400 Not Out - England Hockey|website=englandhockey.co.uk|date=30 December 2023 }}</ref> He represented England and won a bronze medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://teamengland.org/news/mens-hockey-team-ready-for-gold-coast-challenge |title=Men’s hockey team ready for Gold Coast challenge |website=England Hockey |date=12 March 2018 |access-date=17 May 2025}}</ref>
On 19 December 2018 it was announced that he is taking a break from international hockey in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=Danson & Middleton not in GB squads |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/hockey/46626724 |access-date=21 December 2021 |work=BBC Sport |date=19 December 2018}}</ref> On 8 April 2019 he announced his retirement from international hockey.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.englandhockey.co.uk/news.asp?itemid=45828&itemTitle=Barry+Middleton+retires+from+international+hockey§ion=22|title = Latest Media | England Hockey| date=30 December 2023 }}</ref>
On 28 June 2021 he was appointed Director of Hockey for Holcombe, whilst continuing to play for them<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hockeywrldnws.com/barry-middleton-new-holcombe-director-of-hockey/|title=Barry Middleton - New Holcombe Director of Hockey | Hockey World News|date=28 June 2021}}</ref> and on 2 February 2022 it was announced that he would be an Assistant Coach for England for some of the FIH Hockey Pro League matches, in the coming months.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.englandhockey.co.uk/media/news/several-new-faces-selected-for-england-men-s-first-fih-hockey-pro-league-games|title = Several New Faces Selected for England Men's First FIH Hockey Pro League Games | England Hockey| date=2 February 2022 }}</ref>
He joined Surbiton Hockey Club as a player coach for the 2024–25 season and helped them win the league title.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehockeypaper.co.uk/articles/2025/05/05/england-hockey-finals-reading-women-and-surbiton-men-land-surprise-titles |title=England Hockey Finals: Reading women and Surbiton men land surprise titles|website=The Hockey Paper |date=5 May 2025 |access-date=5 May 2025}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{sports links}}
{{Navboxes |title=Barry Middleton – International Tournaments |bg = white |fg = navy |list1= {{England FH Squad 2003 Champions Challenge}} {{England FH Squad 2003 EuroHockey}} {{Great Britain FH Squad 2004 Olympic Qualifier}} {{Great Britain FH Squad 2004 Summer Olympics}} {{England FH Squad 2005 EuroHockey}} {{England FH Squad 2005 Champions Challenge}} {{England FH Squad 2006 Commonwealth Games}} {{England FH Squad 2006 World Cup}} {{England FH Squad 2007 Champions Challenge}} {{Great Britain FH Squad 2007 Champions Trophy}} {{England FH Squad 2007 EuroHockey}} {{Great Britain FH Squad 2008 Summer Olympics}} {{England FHM Squad 2009 EuroHockey}} {{England FHM Squad 2010 Commonwealth Games}} {{England FH Squad 2010 World Cup}} {{Great Britain FH Squad 2011 Champions Trophy}} {{Great Britain FH Squad 2012 Summer Olympics}} {{England FH Squad 2012 Champions Trophy}} {{England FH Squad 2014 World League Final}} {{England FH Squad 2014 World Cup}} {{England FHM Squad 2014 Commonwealth Games}} {{England FH Squad 2014 Champions Trophy}} {{Great Britain FH Squad 2016 Summer Olympics}} {{Great Britain FH Squad 2016 Champions Trophy}} {{England FH Squad 2017 World League Final}} {{England FH Squad 2018 World Cup}} {{England FH Squad 2018 Commonwealth Games}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Middleton, Barry}} Category:1984 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Doncaster Category:English men's field hockey players Category:Cannock Hockey Club players Category:East Grinstead Hockey Club players Category:Der Club an der Alster players Category:Holcombe Hockey Club players Category:HGC (field hockey) players Category:English expatriate field hockey players Category:Men's England Hockey League players Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Germany Category:English expatriate sportspeople in India Category:Olympic field hockey players for Great Britain Category:Field hockey players at the 2004 Summer Olympics Category:Field hockey players at the 2006 Commonwealth Games Category:2006 Men's Hockey World Cup players Category:Field hockey players at the 2008 Summer Olympics Category:Field hockey players at the 2010 Commonwealth Games Category:2010 Men's Hockey World Cup players Category:Field hockey players at the 2012 Summer Olympics Category:Field hockey players at the 2014 Commonwealth Games Category:2014 Men's Hockey World Cup players Category:Field hockey players at the 2016 Summer Olympics Category:2018 Men's Hockey World Cup players Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for England Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists in field hockey Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire Category:Medallists at the 2014 Commonwealth Games Category:English male indoor hockey players Category:2011 FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup players Category:21st-century English sportsmen