Colin Thomson has been a part of football in the Yarra Valley for almost 20 years.
By Kath Gannaway
YVMDFL umpire Colin Thomson has been recognised for his contribution to Aussie rules football.
After 33 years with a whistle and officiating at 1019 matches in the Yarra Valley and Mountain District Football League, Thomson was named the WorkSafe-VCFL footy legend in August.
Colin began umpiring in the Ballarat Football League when his playing career ended in 1977 and after 100 games there moved to the Yarra Valley League in 1981.
After umpiring 300 games in the Yarra Valley he was presented with the Wally Haywood umpiring award in 1993 before completing 700 games in 2005 and 800 in 2007.
He has also umpired more than 600 games in the Knox juniors competition.
He has served on the Yarra Ranges Umpires Association committee and been an advocate on the tribunal for many years and is a life member of the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League.
And he is lining up again next year.
WorkSafe’s Ross Pilkington said Thomson’s contribution, and that by umpires in general, provided a fundamental service to the football community.
“They often have a difficult job to do and make decisions that can have an enormous impact on a game,” he said.
“Everyone knows they cop a bit of flak at times so for someone to be able to stick with it for more than 30 years shows real character.”
Victorian Country Football League chief executive Glenn Scott also congratulated Thomson.
“Football is all about getting involved, and the long-term commitment and professionalism of umpires like Colin is what makes country footy tick – week in and week out,” he said.
“I can’t imagine how many times he must have blown his whistle or called ‘play on’ over all the games he has been involved in.”
