{{Short description|Northern Irish footballer and manager}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Darren Lockhart | image = | caption = | fullname = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|11|12|df=y}} | birth_place = Belfast, Northern Ireland | height = | position = Midfielder | currentclub = | clubnumber = | years1 = 1994–1996 | clubs1 = H&W Welders | caps1 = | goals1 = | years2 = 1996–1997 | clubs2 = Carrick Rangers | caps2 = | goals2 = | years3 = 1997–2000 | clubs3 = Crusaders | caps3 = | goals3 = | years4 = 2000–2007 | clubs4 = Glentoran | caps4 = | goals4 = | years5 = 2007–2008 | clubs5 = Crusaders | caps5 = | goals5 = | years6 = 2008–2009 | clubs6 = Bangor | caps6 = | goals6 = | years7 = 2009–2010 | clubs7 = Ballymena United | caps7 = | goals7 = | years8 = 2010–2011 | clubs8 = Ards | caps8 = | goals8 = | manageryears1 = 2012–2014 | managerclubs1 = Sirocco Works | manageryears2 = 2015 | managerclubs2 = Dundela }}
'''Darren Lockhart''' (born 12 November 1973) is a Northern Irish football manager and former player.
==Playing career== Born in Belfast, Lockhart began his professional career with Crusaders after playing at semi-professional level with H&W Welders and Carrick Rangers. After three years with Crusaders, he later played with Glentoran, where he spent seven years and won numerous trophies, before returning to Crusaders in 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/local/article2647461.ece |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723190139/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/local/article2647461.ece |url-status=dead |archivedate=23 July 2012 |title=Glentoran's Darren Lockhart will today sign for Crusaders |accessdate=22 August 2009 |date=12 June 2007 |author=Chris Holt |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph }}</ref> Lockhart retired from professional football in April 2008,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/7370572.stm|title=Lockhart decides to call it a day|access-date=22 August 2009|date=28 April 2008|work=BBC Sport}}</ref> but was later persuaded to return to the game by Bangor. He signed for Ballymena United in 2009 and left join Championship 1 side Ards for the start of the 2010–11 season where he spent one year.
==Managerial career== Lockhart joined Northern Amateur Football League side Sirocco Works in the summer of 2011 initially as a coach.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20181118202037/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-29555142.html HighBeam]</ref> He took over as manager in 2012,<ref>[https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-300270501.html HighBeam]{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> and left this position in October 2014.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/northern-ireland/the-park/new-sirocco-works-boss-crooks-relishing-the-challenge-ahead-30695220.html|title = New Sirocco Works boss Crooks relishing the challenge ahead|newspaper = Belfasttelegraph}}</ref>
In April 2015 Lockhart was appointed as manager of Dundela.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nifootballdaily.com/News/duns-appoint-glentoran-hero-as-new-boss/8555|title=Duns appoint Glentoran hero as new boss}}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He was still managing the club as of November 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/irish-league/lockhart-hopeful-his-dundela-side-can-turn-the-corner/34202932.html|title=Lockhart hopeful his Dundela side can turn the corner|date=15 November 2015|via=www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk}}</ref>
==Playing style== Lockhart was described as having "an engine to burn and a no-nonsense approach to tackling [...] during a distinguished career in the local game."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/barry-johnston-gary-haveron-pick-22196064|title=Johnston and Haveron pick Big Two rivals as 'toughest opponents'|first=Gareth|last=Fullerton|date=17 November 2021|website=Belfast Live}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20171201131752/https://playerhistory.com/player/86818/ Profile at PlayerHistory.com] *[http://walkthechalk.com/player.php?id=211 Profile at WalkTheChalk.com]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lockhart, Darren}} Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:Association footballers from Belfast Category:NIFL Premiership players Category:Ards F.C. players Category:Ballymena United F.C. players Category:Bangor F.C. players Category:Carrick Rangers F.C. players Category:Crusaders F.C. players Category:Glentoran F.C. players Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Harland & Wolff Welders F.C. players Category:Men's association footballers from Northern Ireland Category:NIFL Championship players