Family that plays together stays together.
This would apply to the Carter family who have all become involved in the Port Pirie Football League Umpires Association.
They individually have picked up their whistles and flags, put on their orange or green tops, and taken to the football field like a duck to water.
Terence, 17, was the first family member to take up umpiring after Father Steve Ardill ,who was in charge of the recruitment of umpires, encouraged him to give it a go. He has been umpiring for six years, both boundary for the league matches and a field umpire for the Under 18’s.
It doesn’t finish there; he is also an administrator on the umpires panel and part of the selection of umpires, goes to league meetings and works alongside the umpire’s coach.
Brother Gerard, 14, who has been umpiring for four years, saw the enjoyment his older brother got from his sport and followed him.
He does the boundary for the A grade and loves the fitness it provides.
Both he and Terence had the honour of being chosen to do the A grade grand final last year.
Gerard also helps out with goal umpiring and is teaching skills to his sister Louise, 16, who is a goal umpire for the U18’s.
This is Louise’s first year umpiring and she said she really likes the job, especially as it gives her pocket money to buy things.
She decided to give it a go along with her friend Brooke Daws, also in her first year.
The Carter’s youngest umpire William, 11, found it was just a natural progression to follow his siblings.
With amazing confidence, he does the boundary umpiring for the U18 matches and he said the much older and bigger boys treat him okay.
This is possibly because he is a learner and is wearing the distinctive green top identifying learners from the customary orange uniform.
Last, but not least, is Dad (Mark) who identified with the saying, ‘if you can’t beat them join them’.
After his wife acknowledged there was an urgent need for umpires he decided he would lend a hand and is a goal umpire.
A past footballer, Mr Carter stopped playing due to an injury and thought he should give something back to the game.
“At the same time I can share something with my children and support Leanne,” he said.
Mr Carter’s wife, Leanne, is the secretary of the Port Pirie Football League Umpires Association, taking over this season from Robyn Bond who had held the position for the past eight years.
“Robyn had been like a mother to my boys, fostering their progress and I wanted to be in the position to help someone else’s children through the ranks,” said Mrs Carter.
Since the family moved from Murray Bridge six years ago, they have been a great acquisition to the Port Pirie Football League Umpires Association and the SGL as a whole.
Anzac Day this year was a significant day for the family. Mark, Gerard, Terence, and William all officiated in the same U18 match, which is quite possibly a first in Port Pirie
football umpiring.
PHOTO: FAMILY TIES…Proud mum Leanne Carter, front, is very proud of her family who are all involved in umpiring for the Port Pirie Umpires Association. They are Gerard, left, Louise, Terence, husband Mark, and William.
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