Michael Littlefield: Burdekin engineer to referee at Touch Football World Cup

A North Queensland sugar-mill employee says he will run 125 kilometres as a referee at the rapidly approaching 2024 Touch Football World Cup in England.

Michael Littlefield, Wilmar’s engineering superintendent at the sugar company’s Inkerman Mill in the Burdekin, and his whistle are off to England next week to referee the world’s best touch football players. Picture: Supplied

A North Queensland sugar-mill employee says he will run 125 kilometres as a referee at the rapidly approaching 2024 Touch Football World Cup in England.

Michael Littlefield, engineering superintendent at Wilmar’s Inkerman Mill in the Burdekin, is ranked the number one touch referee in North Queensland and 12th in Australia.

“I’m honoured to be selected to represent my country in the game I’ve grown up with,” he said on Friday.

“I’ll be refereeing four to five games each day during the competition – I typically run about 5km a game so, over the length of the tournament, I could run up to 125km,” he said.

Mr Littlefield will join 200 referees from 20 nations officiating at the World Cup in Nottingham from July 15 to 21, with 39 countries set to compete.

Michael Littlefield, centre, at the NRL Touch Premiership in Townsville in 2019. Picture: Supplied

Burdekin born and bred, Mr Littlefield has played touch football since he was a child and became a referee when he was in high school.

“The World Cup comes around every four years and represents the pinnacle of touch football globally.”

He said it wasn’t his first rodeo.

“I was first selected as an Australian referee for the 2015 Touch Football World Cup in Sydney, which was amazing,” he said.

“I was selected again for the 2019 World Cup held in Malaysia, so this will be my third stint refereeing on the world stage.”

Michael Littlefield in action at a National Touch League Women's Open match in Coffs Harbour in 2022. Picture: Supplied

Mr Littlefield’s Wilmar workmates have rallied behind him.

Senior Engineering Superintendent Guy Giardina said he was stoked to see his colleague representing Australia at such an elite level.

“I think it’s a great achievement that shouldn’t go unnoticed and I speak for a lot of Wilmar employees in saying we’re really proud of what he’s achieved.”

General Manager Engineering Istvan Torok congratulated Mr Littlefield for his achievements, on behalf of the company.

“We have many people in our business who work in our sugar mills, live locally and actively contribute to our communities,” Mr Torok said.

“Michael’s professionalism and dedication doesn’t stop on the field; We see these same values at work and his positive attitude helps to create a great workplace.”

Mr Littlefield holds Touch Football Australia’s highest accreditation for referees and has reffed many high-profile games in the past, including the Touch Football State of Origin, Indigenous All Stars and National Touch Championships.

He is also a member of the National Referee Squad comprising the top 20 referees in Australia.

Originally published as Michael Littlefield: Burdekin engineer to referee at Touch Football World Cup