Peel footy umpire Ken Wiseman hit a remarkable milestone when he breached the 800-game mark officiating Pinjarra’s clash with Mandurah at Sir Ross McLarty Oval on Sunday, May 20.
The veteran goal ump has been waving his flags since the Peel Football and Netball League’s inception in 1992, and spent time officiating games in the Murray Districts Football League prior to that.
Wiseman originally hails from Falcon, but moved to Kalgoorlie in the 1980s to take up a post as a school teacher in the Goldfields for five years, returning to the Peel region in 1989.
His time in Kalgoorlie gave him the itch to take up field umpiring, but after two seasons he traded his whistle in for a pair of flags and a spot behind the goal line.
The Peel Football Umpires Association (PFUA) life member also spent a year scoring games at the WAFL level, while his service also includes three seasons as a goal umpires coach and three goal umpire of the year awards.
He has also mentored several new umpires to have come through the program and is one of just a handful of remaining PFUA members to have been involved in the PFNL’s inaugural season.
Wiseman’s resume includes a total of 15 grand finals in the PFNL, consisting of six at the league level, five in the reserves and four in the colts.
The long-standing legend said he was proud to have been a goal umpire in this region and thankful for the many friendships he has struck up along the way.
