Knight makes debut on the boundaryFriday, August 8, 2014 - 10:09 AM

Boundary umpire Claire Knight became the fifth female to umpire WAFL League football this season when she made her debut in the Claremont v South Fremantle game in Round 15.

WAFL Boundary Umpire’s Coach Geoff O’Neill said that to have another female running league footy was a fantastic achievement and a great reward for Knight’s hard work.  

Knight commenced umpiring Senior Community Football at the age of 14 in 2005 after progressing from Beechboro Braves Junior Football Club, where her little brother played and dad was president.

Knight had umpired at Beechboro from the age of 12 until 15 when she left for boarding school.

Knight returned and commenced her transition from Senior Community Football to WAFL in 2013.

She said her dad had inspired her to become an umpire after officiating Lacrosse at an international level.

Upon retirement he was asked by the WAFC to try his hand at football umpiring but unfortunately family circumstances prevented him from giving it a good go.

Knight said all of the other umpires at WAFL level had been invaluable to her progress, sharing knowledge and training, and helping her to step up her fitness.

She also said that the Police Academy trainers at her workplace who, incidentally thought she was crazy with the level of training and education packed into an exhausting six months period, had been encouraging in her pursuit for league football.

“I’m also grateful to have a running buddy in Amy Zappavigna, who keeps me going on non-designated training days,” she said.

“As a shift worker, I’ve also been lucky with the amount of support I’ve had from her colleagues. I couldn’t continue without the shift changes and swaps, start time changes and training days accounted for.”

Milestones

Congratulations to Goal Umpires Dale Edwick 250 games and Steve Gaensler 50 games who achieved both milestones in round 18