ACT Referees rewarded with National stage

A number of ACT referees had strong seasons rewarded last week with selection by the FFA for the Hyundai A-League, Westfield W-League and National Y-League referee panels.

Owen Goldrick and Greg Taylor were once more selected to the Hyundai A-League assistant referee panel, while Delfina Dimoski and Nia Southwell returned to the Westfield W-League assistant pool. However there was a new addition from the ACT, with Georgia Ghirardello appointed to the same panel in recognition of her fast rise through the refereeing ranks.

Dimoski will enter her fifth year on the Westfield W-League panel, and said that the strong Canberra presence speaks to the strength of the Referee programs within the ACT region.

“I think it is excellent to have such a diverse group of referees selected on all 3 panels,” she said.

“We are a smaller member federation and we are represented well and it is something that the whole Capital Football community can be proud of.

“It is also excellent to see the change of the guard and a new generation of referees stepping up into the national spot light.”

“The selection across all three panels speaks volumes of the our coaching, mentoring and support here in the ACT.

“Strong foundations have been laid by match officials such as Allyson Flynn and Ben Williams and that formula will hopefully continue with the new generation of elite referees.”

Dimoski herself has her sights set on earning her FIFA refereeing badge at some point, and said she is looking forward to being a part of the panel once more, particularly in the league’s 10th season.

“I really enjoy officiating in the W-League, it’s a completely different style of football and environment in general,” Dimoski said.

“You get to work with top officials from all over the country and referee some of the best female players in the world.

Capital Football CEO Phil Brown said the news was great to see, particularly the new inclusions from the Canberra region.

“We congratulate the Referees, Assistant Referees and Referee Assessors from the ACT appointed to the HAL, WWL and NYL panels,” he said.

Four Canberra referees were appointed to the Foxtel Y-League panel, with Alex Twomey joined this year by Hamish Rae, Harry Shield and Nathan Shakespear, while Canberra’s Clive Mackillop and Gavin Martin were appointed to the assessors panel for 2017/18.

“In particular we acknowledge the new appointments of up and coming officials Hamish Rae, Harry Shield and Nathan Shakespear to the National Youth League,” Brown said.

“It is also pleasing to see Georgia Ghirardello’s development as a match official recognised with her inclusion in the Westfield W-League Assistant Referee Panel.”

Dimoski was also quick to congratulate Ghirardello on her appointment, noting that it is important for them and other female referees to foster the next generation.

“She [Georgia] is such a positive, vibrant person and will be a welcome edition into the elite group.,” she said.

“It is nice to have inspirational women training side by side and preparing for match day and other leadership and mentoring responsibilities and generally being there to support one another.

“All three of us play a role in fostering future generations of female referees starting from grassroots level referees and learning and developing these skills together.”

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