NEW START: New Wangaratta Umpires Board president Shane Downie (right) is looking to make the relationship between officials and clubs stronger with the help of field umpire coach Dave Ryan (left) and Laurie Johnston. PHOTO: Cheryl Browne

Downie says clubs need to treat officials with respect

Written by JEREMY WILSON.

NEW Wangaratta Umpires Board president Shane Downie has hit the ground running in his first year in the head position, declaring umpires are an integral part of the game and clubs need to start treating them with more respect.

Downie has taken over the post from Mick Johnstone, who has been elected vice-president, and while he is no longer coaching, he believes he can implement some things that will help the board prosper.

"I’ve given away coaching and running and I’ve plenty of umpiring experience so I thought I would put that experience to the test as president," he said.

"I think I’ve got a couple of things I can add to the umpires board as president."

One of the things Downie is passionate about is making the relationship between umpires and clubs stronger and he said he would be getting out to all clubs this year in a bid to improve this.

Downie said abuse from all levels reached dangerously high levels last year and resulted in the loss of over 1000 matches of senior umpiring experience, which was disastrous for the board.

"Last year we lost five senior umpires with well over 1000 games of experience solely because of abuse, which was very disappointing," he said.

"It appears there is a culture out there that it is okay to abuse umpires and that’s at all levels from spectators to players to committee to board members.