The GFUL Board of Management have appointed Carl Wood to replace Bill Fulton as General Manager of the GFUL.   Carl was selected from a strong field of applicants.   The Board have also approved a transition period commencing on the 1st August  through until the completion of this current 2008 season, during which time Bill Fulton will pass on as much knowledge and expertise as possible to make Carl’s introduction into the role a smooth one.  

Carl has had considerable experience in the management of major sporting organisations having been appointed to CEO positions with Taekwondo Australia, the Victorian Branch of the Equestrian Federation of Australia and the Victorian Rugby Union.     He also holds a Master Degree in Business Administration, Graduate Diplomas in Accounting and in Risk Management and also has Certificates in Association Management, so you can see that he has extremely eminent qualifications to help him succeed in the role of GFUL General Manager.

We wish him every success in his new role.

GFUL Field Umpire Steven Trotter was named Umpire of the Carnival at the National Australian Country Football Championships held in Shepparton last weekend after several very impressive umpiring performances including the Grand Final between the ACT and Victoria No 1. Steven was joined in the Grand Final umpiring panel by GFUL Goal Umpire David House who also put in some very polished displays throughout the Championships.

Four GFUL Coaches were also selected to represent Victoria at the Championships. GFUL Director of Umiring,Steven Keating, along with Boundary Umpire Coaches Brian Hunter-Evans and Eden Stubbings and Goal Umpire Coach Mark Osborne, were given the responsibility of coaching the umpires appointed from all States participating in the Championships.

For Steven to be named the Number 1 Field Umpire in Country Auatralia is a fantastic achievement and the appointment of GFUL Coaches to the Championships, further enhances the reputation and standard of umpiring within the GFUL.

Rumors circulating around local football media about a mooted takeover of the GFUL by Football Geelong are completely unfounded . The GFUL have neither held any discussions with, or been approached by Football Geelong on the subject. These rumors have stemmed from the resignation of the GFUL General Manager at the end of the current 2008 season causing one or two media persons to speculate irresponsibly.

One of the greatest strengths the GFUL have as an umpiring group is complete independence and autonomy . All GFUL members are therefore advised to completely ignore any such rumors of a takeover and trust the GFUL Administration to preserve and defend the current memberships overwhelming desire for the GFUL to remain an independent organisation.

The GFUL has a strong connection with the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Not only will GFUL Goal Umpire and Para-Olympian, Richard Colman be in Beijing to defend his Olympic Gold Medal, GFUL Assistant Training Supervisor Mandi Cole will also join him in Beijing to play an integral role as a trainer in helping our Athletics team prepare for their events. Maybe we could expand our recruiting campaign to China and have Richard and Mandi sign up a few more Boundary and Goal Umpires for the GFUL.