Parting shots from Gillespie

Press, 10 May 1980, Page 20

Parting shots from Gillespie

By

KEVIN TUTTY

Ross Gillespie’s decision to vacate his place on the New Zealand hockey selection panel ends an illustrious nine year association with the national team. But Gillespie was quick to point out that the decision did not preclude him from being available again in future years. His decision was made because he says he has over committed himself. He is coaching the Woolston senior team in Christchurch, which he will continue to do, and wants to spend more time supporting his children, who have varied sporting interests. Being a national selector involved a great deal gf time attending representative matches and tournaments, and often coaching schools. “I am enjoying coaching the Woolston side and I think it’s important that club teams have a coach. There are not too many club teams with coaches in Canterbury. “I haven't given away the idea of selecting or coaching at national or provincial level in the future,- but feel now I have too many commitments.

“Being available now would commit me to another four years because ihe policy at present is to work in four year cycles.” The pinnacle of Gillespie’s nine years as selector and five as coach was winning the gold medal at the Montreal Olympics in 1976. It was New Zealand hockey’s greatest moment, but there were others too. During Gillespie’s term as "coach. New Zealand had a number of other moments it can cherish. One was at the Christchurch international tournament in 1974 when the home side beat the Netherlands 4-3 after being 3-0 down. At the time the Dutch were the world champions. The following year India toured New Zealand after winning the World Cup, and New Zealand won one of the four tests. The only teams New Zealand did not beat during Mr Gillespie’s term were Pakistan and West Germany, although it drew with the latter in the first game of the Montreal Olympics. Gillespie believes 1 he has opted put at the end of an

era. Many of the players that he coached will retire in the next year or two. But it is not only the end of a playing era. “There is more stability in coaching and selection now than when I started in 1971. We try and work in four year periods using the selection panel to give people experience before they take over the coaching position.” “International hockey is different to provincial hockey and it is continuing to improve. We will be hard pressed to keep up with the top countries unless we can get an artificial surface or two in this country, or at least some very good grass surfaces that we can use regularly. “We are still not getting good grounds and until we do the development of hockey will be restricted. Even ’ the national team with its highly developed skills needs good surfaces to train on.” Talking of the players he has been associated with he believes the group to be one of the best, if not the best, New Zealand has had.

“Over the next two years the selectors could have trouble replacing them because the new players coming on haven’t got the same experience. We (the New Zealand Hockey Association) have been a bit remiss in not promoting colts hockey.” Perhaps the single greatest factor that has allowed several members of the present New Zealand team to hold their places for so many years is their total dedication. “I wonder whether young players appreciate how much work they have to put in on the basics to achieve what the current plavers have.” Gillespie has doubts, which have been expressed by other administrators, about New Zealand being able to compete in both the World Cup and Olympics in the future. “To have a major tournament every two years is beconting prohibitive from a cost point of view. In addition, players are finding it hard to get time off work without pay. I think we mav have to become World Cuppers in the future. particularly with the troubles that have arisen over the Olympics.”-