Sport
26 June, 2026
Special milestones for umpires
LAST weekend marked major milestones for two of the district’s long-standing football umpires.
Last Saturday’s senior match between Panmure and the Timboon Demons marked game number 700 for central umpire Hugh Worrall.
“It was an absolutely amazing day, I loved every minute of it,” Hugh said.
“I used to work in Timboon so to be able to return to the town and officiate my 700th game there was even more special. I’m very grateful to both clubs (Timboon and Panmure) and to my family and fellow umpires who all helped to make the day a wonderful one.”
Football has been running through Hugh’s veins since a young child.
His love for the sport began “before I could even walk I reckon.”
His list of achievements on the footy field, both with and without the whistle, is impressive.
In his early years, Hugh played with VFL club Fitzroy.
“I joined Fitzroy mid-way through 1968, played a full season in ’69 before getting glandular fever during the pre-season of 1970.
“I went back home to Port Campbell to recover and I never went back.”
During his time with the Port Campbell club, playing in the former Heytesbury District League, Hugh won league best and fairest awards in seasons ’75 and ’76 as a senior playing coach.
By the late 1970s Hugh joined the Cobden Football Club where his talent on the field was rewarded with three Maskell Medals.
“I won the Maskell in 1970, ’72 and ’79; those were great years and we had a lot of fun, I also did some coaching while I was at Cobden, it was a great community club.”
When his playing days ended, Hugh found himself sitting on the boundary watching his favourite game.
“I really didn’t like watching from the sidelines so I quickly picked up a whistle and started umpiring,” he said.
“The best view is in the centre of the ground; I’ve been a central umpire from the start of my career and still love it today just as much as I did on my first game. It gives me an opportunity to stay involved with footy.”
The first game he officiated was in 1987 for the Colac and District Umpires Association.
He notched up 450 games with that association before moving to Port Fairy where he joined the Warrnambool Umpires.
Looking back over his umpiring career, some of Hugh’s “greatest highs” to date has been officiating at countless grand final matches for the Warrnambool District League.
“This past month has been simply amazing for me; notching up my 700th game and I also had the chance to umpire a couple of Hampden League games.
“I hope to continue umpiring for as long as I’m physically fit and capable.”
Also celebrating a milestone last weekend was Pat Nolan who waved the flags in the goal circle during the South Rovers and Merrivale match, notching up game number 400.
“I had a short stint umpiring with the Footscray District League while living in Melbourne in the early 1990s and then spent a few years with the Horsham Umpires before joining the Warrnambool District in 2005,” he said.
“My 400 games have all been in Warrnambool; I did a couple of games on the boundary but I really enjoy being in the goals – it’s just you and the ball.
“Being a goalie is something I really enjoy and I also value the friends I’ve made over the years. We get a great view of the game and can hear lots from the crowd.
“A few years back another umpire and I started an official count of the number of posters (when the ball hits the post) we see in a season; I think the record to date is around 39.”
Having turned 72 earlier this week, this dedicated ‘goalie’ is keen to continue his work with the flags for as long as he can – come rain, hail or shine.
