North Shore Times (New Zealand)
From hurdler to referee: McNeely takes control
A few years ago, Wendy McNeely bravely went where the dads of her her young son’s football teammates wouldn’t - into the middle of the pitch.
McNeely, a former Olympic hurdler for Great Britain, never imagined she would be a football referee. But, once she picked up the whistle, she never looked back.
What started as a way to help out her son’s team has morphed into an even greater contribution.
McNeely is one of more than 1100 registered football referees around the country, but one of only a few women involved in officiating.
Northern Football Federation’s referee development officer Chris Casey says: ‘‘Wendy is a great example of a passionate referee, who will officiate any game, anywhere, any time. She is volunteer who does anything she can for the game and community. Having people like Wendy involved is really making a difference in our region.’’
McNeely has refereed international matches, National Women’s League games and local men’s and women’s competitions. When she first became involved in football, abuse towards officials from the sidelines was common. Instead of deterring her, it made her more determined to know the laws of the game inside out.
‘‘Sometimes you think as a woman you don’t belong in the world of football, but that is just wrong,’’ McNeely says. She says she feels a sense of family, belonging and support in the referee community. ‘‘I enjoyed refereeing more than playing. The level I was playing at we didn’t get a referee on a regular basis, and, if you got fouled or injured, there were
‘‘Sometimes you think as a woman you don't belong in the world of football, but that is just wrong.’’
Wendy McNeely, football referee
no repercussions.’’
McNeely’s own elite sporting background has meant she has been able to help other Northern Football referees with their fitness and nutrition programmes and assist New Zealand Football’s high performance referees.
* To find out more about refereeing within the Harbour region, contact chris.casey@nff.org.nz.