Allan David Gilgrist was born on October 26, 1957 in England, to the late Jean Gilgrist and Harry Gilgrist. He was a former association football goalkeeper, who represented New Zealand at the international level.

Gilgrist made a solitary official international appearance for New Zealand in a 4–2 win over Fiji on 17 September 1986.

Allan died on 8 August 2023, aged 65 years, and father to Tania Wojtowicz (nee Gilgrist).