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D.O.B: 4/7/77
Occupation: Primary School Teacher
Height: 193cm
Weight : 95kg
Playing Career: Played up until age of 16 - Narrabeen and Pittwater RSL
Referee since: 1993
Class 3 : 1996
Class 2 : 1999
Class 1 : 2001
Honours:
• Being selected to represent the Australian Soccer Referees Federation on the exchange program to Italy in 2004.
• Refereeing at the U/20 International Tournament in Adelaide and being appointed to the match AC Milan v Aston Villa.
• Refereeing the National Youth League Grand Final between Canberra Deakin and South Melbourne.
• Referee of the Year Manly Warringah 2004 and 2005
• Refereeing an A League trial match Queensland Roar v Adelaide United
General Interests:
I enjoy playing and watching a range of sports. I have been working on dropping the golf handicap during the off season but
the results haven’t been great. When I’ve got spare time I enjoy reading autobiographies by players, coaches and
officials from a range of sports and also reading crime novels.
Best Memory:
Getting the opportunity to visit Italy and referee was an amazing experience. It was something special to be part of the first
Australian delegation to travel to Italy and experience life in a football fanatic country. I also really value the opportunities
I have been given to referee important matches and work with great teams of officials on these matches, particularly when
they are my mates from Manly.
Italian Experience
In 2004 I was offered the wonderful opportunity to be part of an exchange program and travel to Italy with five other referees
for two weeks.
It was an amazing learning experience in refereeing and in that of the culture of football. Each referee
was given two matches to officiate with Italian assistant referees on matches in the level of football below Serie D. From
arriving at the venue to the running of the match provided many new experiences and learning opportunities.
Referees are required to travel to the matches as a team and meet at a prearranged venue to travel to the matches as a crew.
Officials are required to be at the ground two hours before the scheduled kick-off time. Before the game the referee goes
into both change rooms to check the ID cards of all players. Each player is required to present to the referee for inspection
and checking.
The giving of instructions to assistant referees was difficult because of the language barrier. Most officials could speak
some English so they were able to understand most directions. Drawing little pictures helped to solve some of the problems!
The refereeing of the matches really required me to use a range of player management techniques during the running of the
game. The non-verbal hand gestures, facial expressions and use of the whistle were very important. These were things that
had to be developed over the two games.
The games were technically better than our matches but not as physically challenging.
This required a change of mind set in what constituted a foul and what sanctions were appropriate. And yes diving was a problem,
picking it was hard!
We also had the opportunity to visit the training camp for the Serie C and D referees. This was very valuable in viewing how
they train their referees and how direct and ruthless they are in their discussions with officials over their performances.
There were lots to learn over two days. We were lucky not to have to complete a fitness test with the Italian referees
on our arrival. We were very relieved when we were excused!!
Overall it was a memorable experience and one that provided many learning opportunities and great memories.
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