BY his own admission, it didn’t take Dean Goodridge long to realise he was going to be a bit of a “battler” on the footy field.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
So at the age of 14 he took up umpiring and 32 years later will notch a significant milestone on Saturday when he officiates in his 1000th game.
Goodridge will reach the milestone in the senior BFNL clash between Eaglehawk and Golden Square at Canterbury Park.
Given central umpires on average run 12 to 15 kilometres per game, Goodridge has effectively run the width of Australia (4030kms) three-and-a-bit times during his career that began in 1984.
Goodridge’s 1000 games take in the Bendigo, North Central, Doncaster District and Eastern Suburban Churches leagues, as well as 150 VFL senior/AFL reserves matches.
His games include the 1994 AFL reserves grand final between North Melbourne and Footscray, while he also officiated a Carlton v St Kilda AFL pre-season game.
Goodridge has spent the past five years as director of coaching at the Bendigo Umpires Association, and previous to that had 11 years in the same role with North Central.
“I love the game and the relationships you build with people in footy clubs, which is important,” Goodridge said on Wednesday.
“I teach out at Eaglehawk (Secondary College), so umpiring kids that I have taught, be it at junior or senior level, is always a bit of a thrill.”
Also celebrating a milestone in Saturday’s match at Eaglehawk will be John Norton, who will take charge of his 200th senior game.
Norton – a former BUA chairman of four years – has been umpiring since 2007.
“I wanted to stay involved in football and to keep fit, and thought I had a good knowledge of the game, so umpiring was a chance to combine all that,” Norton said.
“I still really enjoy the excitement of getting out there and making decisions and trying to do good for the game of football by staying involved.”
The BUA has also had Brad Rankin and Damian Nolan already achieve milestones this year.
Rankin officiated in his 200th senior match for the BUA, although, there’s plenty more games on top of that elsewhere throughout his 25 years, including in Ballarat, the Victorian Amateurs – and even Japan.
And Damian Nolan, who began in 1999, notched up his 500th game last month when Kangaroo Flat played Gisborne.
Goodridge, Norton, Rankin and Nolan are all central umpires.