Ray Montgomery (1929 – 1 August 2009) was an Australian rules football umpire. Montgomery umpired in the West Australian National Football League (now known as the West Australian Football League) and the Victorian Football League.[1][2]
| Ray Montgomery | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Raymond Montgomery | ||
| Date of birth | 1929 | ||
| Date of death | 1 August 2009 | ||
| Other occupation |
Railway worker Art teacher | ||
| Umpiring career | |||
| Years | League | Role | Games |
| 1952–1964 | WANFL | Field umpire | |
| 1965 | VFL | Field umpire | |
| 1966–1972 | WANFL | Field umpire | |
Working life edit
He began his working life as a coach builder for the Western Australian Government Railways at the Midland Railway Workshops. After going to teacher's college he became an art teacher, becoming an Arts Master at Churchlands College.[3][4]
Playing career edit
Montgomery played football at school and in the Temperance League before playing reserve grade for Swan Districts. His playing career was brought to an end by a cracked vertebra.[4]
Umpiring career edit
Montgomery commenced umpiring football with Metropolitan Juniors in 1949.[1]
WANFL edit
Montgomery joined the WANFL umpiring panel in 1950 and was soon umpiring league football, making his debut in a match between East Fremantle and Swan Districts at Fremantle Oval in Round 4 of the 1952 season.[5]
In 1959 Montgomery officiated in his first grand final, between East Perth and Subiaco at Subiaco Oval.[6]
During Round 1 of the 1956 season Montgomery reported Jack Sheedy for using abusive language towards him, to which Sheedy responded at the tribunal by swearing on a bible that Montgomery had reported the wrong player. Despite the theatrics, Sheedy was found guilty of the charge.[7][8]
In 1963 he made a complaint to the WANFL over an incident that occurred after he had umpired a match between East Fremantle and South Fremantle at East Fremantle Oval. He alleged that as he was walking out of the ground, a player drove a car toward him, attempting to run him over.[9][10]
He retired in 1972 having umpired 308 WANFL league matches including five grand finals.[1][11]
VFL edit
While studying art at the Melbourne Technical College Montgomery umpired two league matches during the 1965 Victorian Football League season.[12][13]
Later life and legacy edit
Montgomery was responsible for redesigning the Swan Districts logo after Swans coach Haydn Bunton, Jr. suggested it needed livening up.[4]
After retiring Montgomery took up bowls and was a member of the Manning Bowls Club for over three decades.[4]
The award for best WAFL field umpire is named the Ray Montgomery Medal in his honour.[1]
In 2002 Montgomery was named as one of three field umpires in the WANFL Umpires Association Team of the Half Century.[14]
In 2004 he was inducted into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame.[15][16]
References edit
- ^ a b c d "Football community mourns Montgomery". West Australian Football Commission. 5 August 2009. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
- ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (6 August 2009). "Monty a great of umpiring". The West Australian. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
- ^ Davidson, Ron (2008). Fremantle Impressions (2nd ed.). Fremantle Press. pp. 186–189. ISBN 978-1-921361-47-0.
- ^ a b c d Head, Ron (5 August 2009). "Vale Ray Montgomery". Memory Lane. Footy Goss. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
- ^ "Montgomery". WAFL Online. West Australian Football Commission. Retrieved 24 March 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Grand Final Umpires 1953-1959 |". www.wanflua.com.au. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
- ^ "East Perth - Part One: 1902 to 1960". Full Points Footy. Archived from the original on 28 March 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
- ^ Devaney, John (2008). Full Points Footy's WA Football Companion. Lulu.com. p. 84. ISBN 978-0-9556897-1-0.
- ^ "'Hit Run' Attempt - Car Claim By Umpire". Sydney Morning Herald. 18 April 1963. Retrieved 24 March 2010 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ "Umpire Seeking League Ruling". The Age. 18 April 1963. Retrieved 24 March 2010 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ "300 Club". www.wanflua.com.au. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
- ^ "Montgomery New Umpire". The Age. 20 May 1965. Retrieved 24 March 2010 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ "Career Field". Australian Football League Umpires Association. Archived from the original on 22 February 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
- ^ "WANFLUA - Team of the Half Century". West Australian Football Commission. Archived from the original on 6 May 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
- ^ "Hall of Fame Inductees". West Australian Football Commission. Archived from the original on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
- ^ "Raymond Montgomery". WA Football Hall of Fame. West Australian Football Commission. Retrieved 26 June 2015.