Legendary local umpire, NCCUA & Black Diamond AFL Life Member, John Sullivan added to his remarkable list of achievements last night by being awarded a prestigious AFL Merit Award.
Only two AFL Awards are allocated throughout AFL NSW/ACT each year to those people who have contributed significantly to AFL over a period in excess of ten years. Sully's name will now be added to the Honour Board in AFL House with other winners from across the country.
Earlier this year Sully umpired his 1000th game which is a remarkable achievement.
Below is the citation which accompanied his nomination:
There is nothing this man, affectionately known as Sully, hasn’t done in local umpiring. After commencing as a Field umpire, Sullivan moved into Goal Umpiring in his latter years.
Over his lengthy umpiring career the 71 year old has umpired 530 Newcastle AFL (NAFL) Matches, including a whopping 10 Newcastle AFL First Grade Grand Finals (5 of these as a Field Umpire). He has also officiated in 427 Black Diamond AFL Matches with 9 Black Diamond Cup (First Grade) Grand Finals and 4 lower grades Grand Finals. Throw into the mix, 59 AFL Hunter Juniors matches and this equates to over 1,000 matches for the Legend of the NCCUA.
In 2015 Sullivan was the first person to be inducted into the inaugural NCCUA Hall of Fame, and was also elevated to Legend status, currently the only person recognised as a Legend. This was in recognition of his outstanding achievements on and off the footy field, having also lead the Umpires Association through major changes between 2000 and 2005, as President and has continued serving the Association in other roles.
Since beginning his competitive umpiring career in 1970 Sully has received many awards, including the 1974 NAFLUA Umpire Achievement of the Year Award, two time NCCUA Goal Umpire of the Year, 2012-2013, as well as the honour of having that award named after him.
Everyone in the NCCUA are extremely honoured that we not only know this man, but can call him a colleague and friend. Congratulations and thank you Sully!
The NCCUA also nominated Christine Burrows, BDAFL Umpires Coach, who over many years has contributed to the coaching of Umpires in the Hunter/Central Coast region and the Greater Sydney area.
Last Modified on 25/08/2017 12:44