Jim Mahoney (umpire)

James Francis Mahoney (17 November 1931 - 26 November 2004) was an Australian rules football goal umpire in the VFL. Mahoney's career lasted 30 years. He was a Victorian Football League Umpires Association life member from 1974 onwards, and was for 6 years the VFL Goal Umpires Advisor (1981-7). Mahoney umpired 289 games at the elite level as a goal umpire.

Early life

Mahoney was born on 17 November 1931, in Newtown, New South Wales. In 1942 his family moved to Port Melbourne, Victoria. There he played football for the Port Melbourne Football Club in the VFL. During his VFL career his team managed to stay undefeated for 7 seasons (127 games). In 1959 he retired from football aged 27 to take up goal Umpiring.

Umpiring career

Mahoney began umpiring at the VFL reserves grade. He umpired in the 1964 VFL reserves grand final. The following year, after the retirement of Jack Lee, Mahoney managed to get a spot on the VFL seniors list. Mahoney umpired in the semi-finals of the VFL in 1967, however it was not until 1971 that he officiated a VFL grand final.

He went on to become a VFL Umpires Association life member by 1974. In 1981, at age 50, he was widely thought to be retiring at the end of the season. However, he returned for another 6 seasons before retiring in 1987.

Achievements

*VFL Umpires Association life member
*Most games for any goal umpire in the VFL
*VFL Goal Umpires Advisor (1981-7)

ee also

*List of Australian rules football umpires

References

* [http://www.aflua.com.au/index.asp?d=5A4C5A717251477C7008060D070609 Biography at the Australian Football League Umpires Association website]