To have longevity in any sport as a player or an official is truly amazing and Port Pirie football umpire Graeme Williams has recently achieved a milestone in a sport he has always been interested in.

In the match between South and Lions played on Sunday, June 7, he notched up his 900th game that he has officiated in as either a field, boundary or goal umpire.

For 45 years since 1964 he has put whistle to mouth, when he favored umpiring over playing.

He was a junior colt, playing in two grand finals which he laments he lost both.

He then decided umpiring was more enticing, with no severe injuries and it would keep him fit.

The sustainable umpire has seen huge changes since the early sixties through to the seventies.

“I can remember the days when the crowds were so thick between the grandstand and the boundary fence you had to push your way through to get onto the oval,” said Williams.

“Now you could shoot an arrow.”

The highlights have been his appointments as field umpire in the A grade grand finals.

It was back in the early days when it was an achievement because there were around 40 umpires to choose from. He has also been a boundary umpire in league grand finals.

Numbers in the Port Pirie Football Umpires Association is down now and Williams said that he is pretty much guaranteed a game.

It is generally a known perception that spectators presume to be the best umpires and experience has taught Williams to expect criticism.

“You have to have a thick skin and let every thing that is said go over your head,” he claimed.

The Port Pirie record holding umpire is now a goal umpire, happy to wave the flags but he is keen to share the knowledge and skills he has learned from past years and help the young lads who are just starting out.

When asked if he will be celebrating 1000 games, Mr Williams said, “While I can still run on to the field I will keep umpiring.”

PHOTO:

MILESTONE…G raeme Williams recently umpired his 900th football game in the Port Pirie and Spencer Gulf Leagues.

Throughout his career he has been a field and boundary and is now a goal umpire.