Photo: Michael Lucas, FFNC Newcastle Permanent Referee of the Month winner for March 2018.
Northern NSW Football (NNSWF) is pleased to announce the Newcastle Permanent Community Referee of the Month for March 2018 across the zones.
“Match Officials have one of the hardest jobs in sport. Each of this month’s winners has shown that they take the role of Match Official very seriously and their dedication, passion and commitment contribute significantly to the positive football experience enjoyed by the players and spectators of matches they officiate,” NNSWF Community Football Manager Peter Haynes commented.
Each winner will be presented a prize pack including a jacket, cap, water bottle and a referee card set to assist in fulfilling their valuable duties on and off the field.
From the pool of monthly winners, a “Newcastle Permanent Referee of the Year” for each Zone will be recognised at the Northern NSW Football Annual Awards Night.
Newcastle Permanent CEO Terry Millett echoes Haynes’ sentiments and applauds the volunteers who received the award.
“Through Newcastle Permanent’s Community Football Awards, we are able to recognise the important role referees play in reinforcing a culture of fair play and respect on the field. Our thanks to all the referees across Northern NSW for their contributions to the game and congratulations to this month’s winner,” Millett said.
The March Newcastle Permanent Community Referee of the Month Award recipients from across each of its seven Member Zones are as follows:
Michael Lucas
Football Far North Coast
Michael is a highly respected senior referee, who has become an important member of the match officials team in Football Far North Coast in recent years. Michael’s input into challenging issues that include the annual recruitment of match officials and efforts to retain and develop them, has seen him become an integral contributor to local football. As well as being one the zone’s senior referees, Michael is a mentor to young match officials and an innovator for finding better processes and outcomes. His idea to begin an initiative this year aimed at education and communication about the Laws of the Game has proven extremely positive in evolving a more respectful environment towards for all referees, as people are given an opportunity to get a better understanding of the rules that apply.
Eliza Bramble
Football Mid North Coast
Eliza is 13 and has been officiating junior games for the last couple of years. She is such a positive and efficient referee and always receives praise from both coaches and spectators for her performance. She is a credit to our club and to refereeing in general. Everyone always walks away happy after Eliza has refereed a match. We’re extremely proud of her!
Blake Chandler
Hunter Valley Football
Blake had his first year of Game Leading in 2017 and did a fantastic job! He dealt with players and parents well when inappropriately questioned. Blake enjoyed it so much he was keen to start his Level 4 Referee Course before he even turned 13! He did this with another amazing young referee in training, Ashton Lane and both boys represented our Club perfectly at the Speers Point Course at only 12 years old. Blake finished the workbook and handed it back into NNSW in record time, I think less than a week!! When he got the marked book back he was so excited to tell everyone at the Club and was proud to have done so well. He refereed during Summer 6s and the confidence growth following completing Level 4 practical was amazing! Blake is really excited to start his official referee duties in 2018 and can’t wait to put on the referee uniform. We believe Blake will go a long way in his referee journey and sets an amazing standard for our younger game leaders to follow, he is always quick to put his hand up to guide the younger kids.
Scott Zanardi
Macquarie Football
Scott recently refereed in the Viking cup and he has shown a great enthusiasm to improve his refereeing and been involved in many trial games over the last month.
His commitment over the past month has been admirable and I’m sure he will be a great nomination for referee of the month and go on to have a great season.
Julliette Fabien
Newcastle Football
Juliette has done a tremendous job behind the scenes working with Newcastle Football (NF) and other committee members from NF Referee’s trying to get NF Referee’s out in local scene creating a new website as well as a facebook page, she is also very active trying to help NF with the referee Mini Roos program as well as trying to get younger referees join the branch. Juliette has shown a keen interest in putting the NF Referees on the public scene with their Facebook and the pleased to see her setup up a working relationship with Ainsleigh in connecting our two organisations across the social media within the region…… it is refreshing.
Dave Goodwin
North Coast Football
Reasons for nomination:
Leadership: Dave has demonstrated a commitment to football and refereeing within NCF. This is shown by Dave commitment to organising a structured training program to develop referee fitness during the preseason. Dave leads by example at all sessions to motivate referees to improve their fitness. Dave also acts as a mentor to younger referees to motivate them to develop their fitness to be able to perform during matches. Dave regularly contributes items of interest to be used as discussion points from various leagues around the world.
Refereeing:
Dave regularly referees Premier League and is also more than willing to travel within the zone to officiate matches of all levels.
I would be happy to see Dave be recognised for his contribution.
Mark Makepeace
Northern Inland Football
Mark has tirelessly over the years helped young referees to gain a knowledge of the game. His contribution to the refereeing community has been significant in developing the young referee’s abilities further then they have thought possible. Mark over the last few years has also volunteered to do the referee appointments for the Tamworth area, to which he did a great success. When Mark wasn’t out in the centre officiating a game he was around the Tamworth grounds giving his mornings right through to late evenings, guiding the referees and helping them to do a better job and to teach them and point out things they have missed on the field. Mark is an excellent mentor/teacher to many of the referees in Tamworth. With all the above said Mark Makepeace would be a worthy recipient of the Newcastle Permanent Community Referee Recognition Award
