Mathew James (umpire)

Mathew James
Personal information
Full name Mathew James
Date of birth (1974-04-07) 7 April 1974 (age 50)
Place of birth Essendon, Victoria
Umpiring career
Years League Role Games
1999–2010 AFL Field umpire 206

Mathew James (born 7 April 1974 in Essendon, Victoria) is a former Australian rules football field umpire most notably in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Umpiring career

James began umpiring in 1991 with the Footscray District Football League. In 1994 joined the Victorian Football League (VFL) where he umpired until joining the AFL in 1999.

AFL

His debut AFL match was in Round 1 of the 1999 AFL season between Collingwood and Hawthorn.

In 2001, his third year on the AFL umpire panel, he umpired his first AFL Grand Final. He also umpired the 2002 and 2004 AFL Grand Finals. James was also named the All-Australian Umpire in 2004.[1][2][3]

International rules

He was the Australian referee in two Test matches in the 2005 International Rules Series between Australia and Ireland.[4]

Retirement

In May 2010, he announced his retirement from umpiring after a persistent calf injury prevented him from umpiring in 2010. He had umpired 206 AFL games, including 16 finals.[1][3]

References

  1. ^ a b "Umpire Mathew James calls it quits". Herald Sun. 27 May 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
  2. ^ "5. Mathew James". Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Umpire Profiles - Mathew James". Australian Football League Umpires Association. Archived from the original on 22 February 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
  4. ^ "International Series". Australian Football League Umpires Association. Archived from the original on 12 September 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
Awards
Preceded by All Australian Umpire
2004
Succeeded by