Ray Scott (umpire)
Encyclopedia
Raymond Cyril "Ray" Scott (17 April 19275 January 2003) was a leading Australian rules football
player and field umpire
in the West Australian National Football League
(WANFL).
(the "Cardinals") in 1944. He spent two years in the Royal Australian Navy
and then rejoined the club. He played 190 games between 1944 and 1959.
Scott was a highly successful forward, kicking 901 goals during his WANFL career. In the 1953 season he kicked 143 goals (including a career high of 15 in one game). Although this was a phenomenal tally, he did not take of the League's goalkicking award as it was the year South Fremantle's
goal kicking legend Bernie Naylor
posted his record 152 goals, including 23 in one game.
Scott was the WANFL leading goal kicker in 1951 and 1955 and he topped West Perth's goal kicking from 1948 to 1955. He kicked one hundred goals or more in a season four times.
Scott represented Western Australia in 1948, 1949 and 1951 in matches against other States. He also played in West Perth premiership sides in 1949 and 1951.
Retiring from West Perth after the 1955 season, Scott played and coached in the Riverina Football League
for three years before returning to Western Australia to take up umpiring.
versus Victoria game in Adelaide.
His status as a leading umpire was reinforced with WANFL Grand Final appointments in 1967 and 1968.
In June 1968 Scott umpired the Victoria versus South Australia clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
. His performance impressed the Victorian officials as they made a special request of the Australian National Football Council for Scott to control the Western Australia versus Victoria match that was played in Subiaco in July. This was indeed remarkable as interstate matches were in those days always controlled by an umpire from a "neutral" State.
Scott retired from on-field umpiring at the end of the 1970 season after 141 matches and three Grand Finals.
In 1972 Scott became an umpires' coach and assistant to the WANFL Umpires Advisor. In 1977 he took on the role of WANFL Umpires Advisor. He remained as coach until 1979, and thereafter he continued with membership of the Umpires Appointment Board, chairing the board in 1981 and 1982.
This outstanding contribution to the WANFL, and the sport in general, was recognised in 1975 with the National Football League Award of Merit. The then national body gave only one award per year and the award was given for 'outstanding service to the game'.
In 1995 Scott was awarded Life Membership of the West Australian Football League.
He was inducted in the Australian Football Hall of Fame
in 1996 in recognition of his services to umpiring.
In 2000 he was included in West Perth's Team of the Century.
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...
player and field 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 West Australian National Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
(WANFL).
WANFL playing career
Ray Scott began playing senior football with the West Perth Football ClubWest Perth Football Club
The West Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Falcons, is an Australian rules football club located in Joondalup, Western Australia, competing in the West Australian Football League . It is the oldest existing Australian rules football club in Western Australia. It competes in the West Australian...
(the "Cardinals") in 1944. He spent two years in the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
and then rejoined the club. He played 190 games between 1944 and 1959.
Scott was a highly successful forward, kicking 901 goals during his WANFL career. In the 1953 season he kicked 143 goals (including a career high of 15 in one game). Although this was a phenomenal tally, he did not take of the League's goalkicking award as it was the year South Fremantle's
South Fremantle Football Club
The South Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is an Australian rules football club, based in Fremantle, Western Australia, playing in the West Australian Football League...
goal kicking legend Bernie Naylor
Bernie Naylor
Bernard George "Bernie" Naylor was an Australian rules footballer who was one of the most successful full-forwards in the history of the West Australian Football League...
posted his record 152 goals, including 23 in one game.
Scott was the WANFL leading goal kicker in 1951 and 1955 and he topped West Perth's goal kicking from 1948 to 1955. He kicked one hundred goals or more in a season four times.
Scott represented Western Australia in 1948, 1949 and 1951 in matches against other States. He also played in West Perth premiership sides in 1949 and 1951.
Retiring from West Perth after the 1955 season, Scott played and coached in the Riverina Football League
Riverina Football League
The Riverina Football Netball League is a semi-professional Australian rules football and netball competition containing nine clubs based in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. The league features three grades in the Australian rules football competition, these being seniors,...
for three years before returning to Western Australia to take up umpiring.
Umpiring career
Scott made a rapid (by the standards then applying) rise through the ranks of umpiring. He umpired his first League game in 1961 and his first Grand Final in 1963. His first interstate match was the 1964 South AustraliaSouth Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
versus Victoria game in Adelaide.
His status as a leading umpire was reinforced with WANFL Grand Final appointments in 1967 and 1968.
In June 1968 Scott umpired the Victoria versus South Australia clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
. His performance impressed the Victorian officials as they made a special request of the Australian National Football Council for Scott to control the Western Australia versus Victoria match that was played in Subiaco in July. This was indeed remarkable as interstate matches were in those days always controlled by an umpire from a "neutral" State.
Scott retired from on-field umpiring at the end of the 1970 season after 141 matches and three Grand Finals.
In 1972 Scott became an umpires' coach and assistant to the WANFL Umpires Advisor. In 1977 he took on the role of WANFL Umpires Advisor. He remained as coach until 1979, and thereafter he continued with membership of the Umpires Appointment Board, chairing the board in 1981 and 1982.
Awards
Scott's contributions to the WANFL totalled an impressive 38 years of service as an umpire, player and administrator. Combined with his playing totals, he participated in 331 WANFL matches, including six Grand Finals.This outstanding contribution to the WANFL, and the sport in general, was recognised in 1975 with the National Football League Award of Merit. The then national body gave only one award per year and the award was given for 'outstanding service to the game'.
In 1995 Scott was awarded Life Membership of the West Australian Football League.
He was inducted in the Australian Football Hall of Fame
Australian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
in 1996 in recognition of his services to umpiring.
In 2000 he was included in West Perth's Team of the Century.