Ross Gillespie

John Ross Gillespie (2 June 1935 – 29 January 2023) was a New Zealand field hockey player and coach. Gillespie represented New Zealand at the Summer Olympics twice as a player, in 1960 and 1964. He was head coach of the New Zealand field hockey team at 1972 Summer Olympics and of the gold medal-winning team four years later in 1976.

Early life and family Born in Timaru on 2 June 1935, Gillespie was the son of John Arthur Gillespie and Marjory Hannah Gillespie (née Kennard). He grew up in Christchurch, and was educated at Christchurch Boys' High School. and they later married and went on to have three children. He was first selected for the New Zealand national team in 1958, making his debut in the first test against Pakistan at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, on 12 April that year.

Gillespie went on to play for New Zealand at two Olympics: in 1960 when New Zealand placed fifth; and in 1964 when New Zealand finished in 13th place.

Coaching As a teenager, Gillespie began coaching junior teams at the Woolston club, and eventually became coach of the club's senior side. The following year, he was the sole head coach of the New Zealand side that placed ninth at the 1972 Summer Olympics (where he was listed as 17th man on the team sheet, but did not make an appearance on the field).

Honours and awards In the 1977 New Year Honours, Gillespie was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to hockey. In 1990, the 1976 gold-medal hockey team was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame. In 1998, Gillespie was elected a life member of Hockey New Zealand. having been predeceased by his wife, Barbara, in 2017.