Swans umpire reaches 800-game milestoneThursday, May 25, 2017 - 10:25 AM

55-year-old umpire Peter Williams stepped out onto the footy field for the 800th time on Sunday, May 21 to umpire the Year 7 match between Upper Swan and Bassendean at Swan Athletic Oval.

Williams has become a household name in the Swan Districts Junior umpiring community and has provided enormous on and off field leadership to many young umpires who have come through the system, including WAFL and AFL umpires Ryan Shelton, Brett Rogers and Ben and Matt Laycock.

It was a very special moment for Williams who was congratulated at the end the match by Perth-based AFL umpire and WA Football Commission Umpire Development Manager Dean Margetts.

Williams was presented with a footy and an umpire shirt signed by the Swan Districts JFC Umpires Association (SDJFUA) umpires on the WAFL Umpiring Panel.

It was a humbling experience for Williams who said he loves everything about the sport.

“I am very humbled to be recognised for this milestone and I do it because I enjoy it,” he said.

“I do it for these young kids too. I just want to see these young aspiring umpires be the best they can be and achieve all the goals they set out to achieve.

“It’s the best game in the world to be involved in at any level.”

SDJFUA Head Coach Andrew Hayes said Peter was still making a significant contribution to junior umpiring today.

“Not only does Peter still umpire, he provides mentor support to young umpires on match days helping them apply the rules and ensuring a safe environment for them to learn and develop,” he said.

“We are extremely proud of Peter and everything he has achieved in umpiring and we hope we have access to his knowledge and experience well into the future.”

It has been a long, enjoyable journey for Williams who can recall the first time he got a real taste of the sport.

“I attended a WAFL game between Swan Districts and West Perth at Bassendean Oval at the age of 11, to help my dad who was coach of the Swans Little League at the time,” he said.

“The Little League game was to be played at half time but the umpire didn’t show up and my dad encouraged me to umpire the game.”

“It was an amazing experience that led me down the umpiring pathway.”

Williams said the highlight of his 800-game career so far is the 1983 Under 18s Grand Final played at Bassendean Oval.

“I was honoured to umpire with future WAFL, AFL Field umpire and now WANFLUA mentor Trevor Garrett,” he said.

“I remember it being an extremely close contest, and Trevor and I made a great umpiring team.”

WAFL Umpire Manager Darryl Sinclair said it was an incredible achievement.

“Peter should be very proud of this incredible milestone and what he has achieved in his role,” Sinclair said.

“Peter’s achievement reinforces the important role umpiring plays at all levels of the game and the fact that umpires can make a significant impact, whether it be at a community, WAFL or AFL level.”