Bruce Wainwright is to be given life membership by the WAFC.
Camera IconBruce Wainwright is to be given life membership by the WAFC. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

WA footy stalwart Bruce Wainwright to be given WAFC Life Membership

Jessica NicoSouthern Gazette

IT was 1959 when Bruce Wainwright joined his first junior football team.

Almost 60 years and dozens of teams, clubs and associations later, the man who has dedicated most of his life to football has been recognised with a West Australian Football Commission (WAFC) Life Membership.

WAFC chair Murray McHenry said Mr Wainwright had provided more than 50 years of umpiring and administration service since 1963.

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It is not the first life membership for Mr Wainwright, who has also received the accolade through the Northern Districts Junior Football Council, WA Football Association and the WA Amateur Football League.

“To umpire more than 1000 games of football and serve as a committee member of the West Australian Amateur Football League for 41 consecutive years is a remarkable commitment most worthy of recognition,” he said.

Mr Wainwright will be formally inducted at a special Subiaco Oval event on December 4.

Bruce Wainwright’s football history

Juniors

1959 – Commenced playing junior football with Collier JFC, playing U12s to U18s 1963 – Junior umpire at Perth whilst playing U16s and U18s 1964-67 – Played Colts at South Perth FC 1980 – Coach and Manager for several teams at Northern Districts JFC 2000 – Awarded Life Membership of Northern Districts JFC

Umpiring

1963-82 – Perth Juniors, Subiaco Juniors, PSA, WAFA and WAAFL (1000 games; 500 games with WAFA commencing in 1968 and over 500 games with the WAAFL including 4 A-Grade WAAFL Grand Finals.) 1976 – Selected as WA umpire for the Australian Amateur Football Carnival in Adelaide 1980 – Selected to umpire the WAAFL v Victorian Amateur Football Association representative game 1982 – Selected to umpire the WAAFL v South Australian Amateur Football League representative game 1988 – Awarded Life Membership of WAFA 1989-90 – WAFA Umpire’s Advisor

WAAFL

1972-82 – Assistant WAAFL Secretary 1982-2006 – WAAFL Secretary 1976-2013 – WAAFL Committee/Board Member 1972-94 – Received weekly scores and contacted media to publish results 1972-89 – Tribunal Secretary 1972-2000 – Ground and Fixtures Sub Committee 1972-2000 – Umpire’s Appointment Board 1976-85 – State Team Selector 1980 – Assistant State Team Manager 1987-2010 – Reinstatement Sub Committee 1990-2010 – Constitution and By-laws Sub Committee 2012-13 – Competition Integrity Sub Committee 1986 – Awarded Life Membership of WAAFL 2000 – Awarded Australian Sports Medal 2014-15 – Patron of the West Coast Amateur Football Club

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