Record number of female referees make history on peninsula
Female referees helped to make history on the northern beaches this season, with a record number signing up to officiate. Click here to see the list of top referees on the beaches.
Manly
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A record number of female referees signed up to the Manly Warringah Football Referees Association this year.
Out of 600 referees, 42 were females.
And, history was made when an all-female refereeing team took to the pitch to officiate the matches at Cromer Park for the Men’s Premier League and Premier League Reserves competition.
It follows a trend of females getting plum refereeing roles internationally and nationally with Stephanie Frappart’s appointment to officiate a major European men’s soccer final and Belinda Sharpe becoming the first female referee of an NRL game.
On the peninsula this year, Naomi Peterson and Jasmin Hill, 20, took charge of the Premier League and Premier League Reserve matches respectively and both were supported by assistant referees Amelia Brennan, 17, and Zahra Chew, 15.
President of the MWFRA, Toby Williams said he was incredibly proud to see an all-female refereeing team officiating at that level for the first time ever.
“The MWFRA has made history this year in appointing Naomi, Jasmin, Amelia and Zahra to officiate together,” Mr Williams said.
“All four are incredibly capable referees and most importantly, their success demonstrates to our record amount of junior female referees that there is a path to the top.”
The referees all commenced their careers with the MWFRA and in the case of Ms Peterson and Ms Hill, have progressed through to the top ranks locally.
Both women referee representative competitions and are currently on the State League Panel.
“It was a privilege to be a part of the first all-female refereeing team,” Ms Peterson said.
“It certainly won’t be the last and I look forward to mentoring the junior girls coming through.”
Ms Hill said men have generally been very accepting of female referees.
Unsurprisingly, both Ms Peterson and Ms Hill were recognised at the MWFRA’s awards evening held in August.
Ms Peterson won the U/25 Referee of the Year Award, Ms Hill won the U/21 Referee of the Year Award. Furthermore, Zahra was awarded the Vice President Juniors Encouragement Award.
The other 2019 referee award recipients were:
Andrew Best — Referee of the Year
Brendan Giuffrida — Assistant Referee of the Year
David McLean — Senior Referee of the Year
Hayden Smith — Level 3 Referee of the Year
Jackson Mackie — Under 18 Referee of the Year
Shaun Denham — 3rd Year Referee of the Year
Thomas Dale — 2nd Year Referee of the Year Callum Eason — Rookie of the Year
Mr Williams said he was impressed with the referees this year, who at times perform a thankless task “but do so with a great deal of professionalism, humour and resilience”.
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