On Sunday, we’ll celebrate Steven ‘Harvey’ Wallbank’s 500th game umpired in AFL Sydney when he steps onto Blacktown Olympic Park for the Division Two game between Balmain Dockers and St George.
The effervescent Harvey always attends AFL Sydney matches and is very well known by members of every club.
Harvey commenced umpiring back in 1990 after having played 99 games for Manly-Warringah. Joining the umpiring group after breaking his hand and having a steel plate inserted, Harvey’s intention was to only umpire for two years while his hand healed, however he has never looked back.
His first game was an under 20’s game between UNSW and St Ives. The game ended up being UNSW’s first win in the under 20 competition and such was the jubilation that they appluded the umpires at the end of the game. A great introduction to umpiring.
Having umpired under six different coaches in the last 21 years Harvey has seen a number of changes in Sydney football both from a playing and umpiring perspective. “The advances in Sydney football has been great, the game is quicker and just all round better from when I first started” Wallbank said. Facilities is another area which have imporved dramatically over the years. “When I first started any sight of rain meant all grounds were closed but now while there is some disruption we still get to play most games.”
The umpiring group has undergone a number of changes with the average age of the umpiring group being 25 years – many of the umpires were not born when Harvey first started umpiring.
Steven Wallbank is one of the core members of the football community and has always given his all in his love of this great game.
On behalf of the AFL Sydney football community we wish Harvey well for his 500th on Sunday and thank him for all of his dedication to football.
Article courtesy of AFL Sydney: http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=1-1047-0-0-0&sID=53282&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=12947005§ionID=53282