Darren Goldspink
Encyclopedia
Darren Goldspink is a veteran Australian rules football
umpire
in the Australian Football League
.
Goldspink was awarded the prestigious All Australian Umpire award three times over his career in 1993, 1995 and 2005, earning himself an AFL Grand Final
appointment on each occasion. He also umpired in the 1998, 2000 and 2006 AFL Grand Finals.
Known for his flamboyance and frequent banter with players, in 2006 it was alleged that Goldspink had made derogatory remarks towards players Paul Chapman and Gary Ablett, Jr.
. He also told one player during a match that "I'm doing my job good" and expressed his personal opinions to Matthew Richardson
about the importance of a shot for goal during a match, much to Richardson's chagrin.
Two rounds later (in Round 17), Goldspink umpired his 350th VFL/AFL match.
Prior to the 2007 AFL season
, Goldspink was dropped by the AFL umpiring panel due to lack of fitness. He returned, after attaining the levels required, and umpired again in Round 10, 2007.
Goldspink retired before the 2008 Home and Away Season. His final game was in a NAB Cup Preseason competition game.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
umpire
Umpire (Australian rules football)
An umpire is an official in the sport of Australian rules football.-Origins:Unlike many other codes of football, where the official is called a referee, in Australian Football, the officials borrow their title from the game of cricket, which is played on the same types of fields and was an...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
.
Goldspink was awarded the prestigious All Australian Umpire award three times over his career in 1993, 1995 and 2005, earning himself an AFL Grand Final
AFL Grand Final
The AFL Grand Final is an annual Australian rules football match, traditionally held on the final Saturday in September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia to determine the Australian Football League premiership champions for that year...
appointment on each occasion. He also umpired in the 1998, 2000 and 2006 AFL Grand Finals.
Known for his flamboyance and frequent banter with players, in 2006 it was alleged that Goldspink had made derogatory remarks towards players Paul Chapman and Gary Ablett, Jr.
Gary Ablett, Jr.
Gary Ablett, Jr. is a professional Australian rules football player and current captain of the Gold Coast Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
. He also told one player during a match that "I'm doing my job good" and expressed his personal opinions to Matthew Richardson
Matthew Richardson (Australian rules footballer)
Matthew "Richo" Richardson , is a retired professional Australian rules footballer who played for Richmond in the Australian Football League...
about the importance of a shot for goal during a match, much to Richardson's chagrin.
Two rounds later (in Round 17), Goldspink umpired his 350th VFL/AFL match.
Prior to the 2007 AFL season
2007 AFL season
The 2007 AFL Season was the 111th season of the Australian Football League, the highest-level professional Australian rules football league in Australia...
, Goldspink was dropped by the AFL umpiring panel due to lack of fitness. He returned, after attaining the levels required, and umpired again in Round 10, 2007.
Goldspink retired before the 2008 Home and Away Season. His final game was in a NAB Cup Preseason competition game.