On Friday morning, Ulster Hockey held our latest Club 1896 event at The Parisien Belfast, featuring special guest, former Manchester United, Newcastle United and Northern Ireland footballer Keith Gillespie.
The 86-capped international was joined on stage by Legacy Wealth Management’s Jonathan Gillespie as both gave valuable insights into their careers in sport and business during a Q&A with host Denise Watson.
The former footballer shared the stories of his early days in the sport, his rise to fame as a member of the famous Manchester United academy and breaking into the first team under legendary Manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
He also spoke of those famous UEFA Champions League nights, such as beating Barcelona with Newcastle United, featuring for Northern Ireland on the international stage, playing at Windsor Park and the historic win over England.
Gillespie went on to discuss the problems he faced in his career, most notably his struggles with gambling and how he has overcome it, as well as how he is passing on his knowledge and experience to the next generation of Northern Irish footballers in his new role as an agent.
Alongside him, Jonathan Gillespie gave valuable business insight, speaking of the importance of financial planning, the latest budget and the impact it will have on all of us in the coming weeks and months.
Thank you to our special guests, Keith Gillespie, Jonathan Gillespie and Denise Watson for her role in hosting the event, as well as everyone who came along.
For information on Club 1896 and to join our membership, email club1896@ulsterhockey.com