For 35 years “Hort the Sport” has been a whistle blower.
Not only has Len Hort been blowing the whistle at football matches all over the country, he has been an integral part of the Goulburn Valley Football Umpires Association looking after the men in white.
Len has umpired more than 1000 games of football, including 447 senior games and three Kyabram District League grand finals.
He has devoted himself to the umpiring fraternity starting out training with the GVFUA in 1978 when they were based at Shepparton High School and being lectured in one of the classrooms at night by association secretary and adviser Owen “Padge” Power.
From there the umpires moved to “Billy Goat Flat” or Victory Park for their training sessions and lectures in the cramped change rooms before moving once again to the Chas Johnson Reserve where they trained and built their own social rooms which doubled as change rooms and were opened in 1981.
Apart from Len, present day clubrooms manager, John McDonald, was treasurer of the building committee, which was headed up by Padge Power while yours truly was secretary and fitness coach.
“Macca” who started umpiring in 1966 was treasurer from 1978 to ’88 and spent 30 years on the committee and made a life member of the association in 1976 while Len was made a life member in 1979.
Len worked his way into umpiring through the juniors and thirds before doing his first senior game in 1985 with Mal Colbert at Jerilderie when he gave an 18-year-old Bill Brownless two votes in the O’Dwyer Medal for his eight goals from full forward.
The next year Bill headed for Geelong and became a legend of the game, while Len did likewise throughout the Goulburn Valley, having done over 1000 games “for points” and many more games for fun which allowed young men to enjoy a game of footy. In the early days an umpire would do thirds and fourths or seconds and thirds on the one day and sometimes umpired again on a Sunday.
Present day adviser, Chris McCallum, has 501 senior games to his outstanding record while former Tallygaroopna and Mooroopna footballer and association president, Bernie Mullane, reached 442 and present day central, Wayne Hamilton 470 and still counting.
Len was three times editor of the “Whistler”, the association’s magazine, which does not exist today, their website, Face book, communications man and “game counter” and 300 Games Club founder.
At the same time over the years, Len has developed a body mass of 80kg to 120kg, which has been against him doing a Murray or Goulburn Valley League grand final. He has the umpiring knowhow but not the best look for the man in white in the centre.
Len is as good with the whistle as many of the association’s top whistle blowers including Glenn James, Dick Harry, Eric Williams, Bernie Mullane and many more.
Len makes fun of his “like a busted sausage” body and cops flack from the crowd with a smile and a rating as to how good the comment is, or isn’t, which is an indication of the humour of the man the young umpires love and the older admire.
In the GVFL Weekender recently, Len tells of being called “treadmill” because the first step will be the quickest.
Some others he remembers coming over the fence have been “where did you do your pre-season at Pizza Hut”, “put down the menu and pick up the rule book”, “give the lasagne away” to mention just a few.
Len doesn’t mind the calls but is well aware others are more sensitive and could be chased away from the game, which is in desperate need of umpires, especially ex-footballers or football followers in their 30’s.
“We really need 30-year-olds. We have got a couple of 40 year olds and one 30-year-old and the rest are teenagers, who will probably have to step up into a world that they may not be ready for, and being kids in this harsh environment of umpiring they may only need one bad day to be scared off for life.”
Len said he isn’t sure what the answer is but he does know the situation is critical and he’d like to retire and I don’t blame him because umpiring in your 50’s is a big ask and one these brave men, and I don’t use that term lightly, are entitled to.
“All I know is that some of us have given our all for umpiring and it has been the best time of our lives and you should try it. It’s tough, its fun and the people I have met along the way have been nothing short of fantastic.”
And Len, you have been one of the greatest recruits the umpires have attracted; it’s only a pity there’s not more of you.
Publicity Officer, Noel Hussey
Last Modified on 28/03/2015 18:38