At a special function held on Wednesday evening The Southern Football League Umpires coaching panel announced the Grand Final appointments for this weekends matches. A special cheer went up when it was announced that veteran field umpire David Luttrell had been appointed as field umpire to his first Division 1 Grand Final. David started umpiring at a very young age and and after five 1st.Division Grand Finals as a boundary umpire took the step up and changed over to field umpiring. He has umpired numerous grand finals including two 3rd division and three 2nd. division Grand Finals before this years sort after appointment.
Other achievement awards were presented to umpires in all categories including the prestegious AFL Victoria sponsored Golden Whistle Award for the most promising young umpire. This award went to Simon Cormie who will field umpire the 3rd Division Senior Grand Final and was presented to Simon by ex AFL field umpir and now media commentator Derek Humphry-Smith.
Mark Carracher and Neville Gardner were presented with 30 year service awards. Both Mark and Neville took up umpiring after finishing their playing careers.
Mark played football in the country before coming to Melbourne and playing in Caulfield -Oakleigh League and in the South East Suburban League before taking up umpiring in 1969. In 1980 he had a stint as coach at East Brighton.
Saturday in the 3rd. Division reserves Grand Final, Mark will umpire his 862 game including 70 finals appearances. He also has had a role in the media having commentated 10 SESFL Grand Finals usually from the roof top of the Bricker Pavillion at Princess Park Caulfield where the finals were played. We say farewell to Mark as he announced to his peers that this Saturday will be the last time that he will receive the "all clear" and wave the flags.
Neville started playing football with Box Hill Pioneers in 1961 as a 17 year old and in his first year won their best and fairest award in the senior team. He played in four premierships before retiring from playing and taking up umpiring. Neville intends to continue his umpiring next season.
The recipients of the awards are as follows :-
Best 1st year Umpire
Field: Scott Rainey
Boundary : Sarah Hawe
Goal : Lawrence Hindrichs
Most Improved
Field : Michael Lithgow snr
Boundary:Michael Bruce
Goal : Michael Lithgow Jnr
Most Dedicated Umpire
Neville Gardner
Best Clubman
Chris Wighton &n
Last Modified on 21/09/2007 09:46