RAY THOMPSON

3rd July 1929 - 7th May 2012

It is with great difficulty that I write of the news of the passing of RAY THOMPSON Life Member & Training Supervisor of the Southern Umpires Association.

Mr Ray Thompson, a true Local Footy Icon, passed away on Monday 7th May in Mt Martha after struggling with Alzheimer’s for some time.

Ray was a small man, but had a big heart and loved local footy.  He was very well known and admired across the footy community on the Peninsula and will be greatly missed.

The loss of a friend and colleague is always difficult and we are reminded of how fragile life can be and ask that people take a moment and reflect on the contribution Ray has made to you personally and your umpiring career with the SUA.
On behalf of the entire Southern Umpires Association, I extend our most sincere condolences to Joyce and the extended Thompson family, Ray’s friends and ask that you keep them in your thoughts.

Brian Nankervis Life Member of the SUA shares his fond memories of Ray Thompson

My own recollections of Ray:

When I first met Ray as a new Field umpire with the SUA, I was struck by his odd combination of a tough work ethic for everyone on the training track combined with a cheeky sense of humour. 
Ray did not coach the SUA members in umpiring or rules, but as the fitness supervisor, in the days of the single field umpire (later became two umpires), he had every umpire fitter than most players.  As an example, our lead up to finals training was to run from the Kananook ground in Seaford along the Nepean Hwy, then up and down Olivers Hill 6 times and then run back to Kananook. 

When everyone returned from this run, it was not uncommon for the umpires to then pick Ray up (an easy task as he was very much a "rover’s build") and dump him in one of the many muddy puddles that were on the Kananook ground back then.

Given that Ray was in his 60's while at the SUA, it was amazing to see him complete all the training that the umpires did, but as many as three or four times over on a given evening.  This was because umpires arrived at training from work at different times and so there may have been 4 groups of 50 umpires (Field Boundary and some Goal umpires), starting their training at 30 minute intervals, yet Ray would move from one group to another urging us to push harder and do more, and so doing the whole session himself each time.

It worked; as when the SUA had the single umpire system still in place, tests were done that indicated that we were rated in the top 1% of  the community in cardio fitness at that time.
Yet Ray could assess the fitness level of various umpires, or if they were carrying injuries, and arrange for appropriate training for them.

The amazing thing about the training we would do for Ray (and we did do it FOR Ray) was that he would make getting fit, fun.  When Ray would tell us that "We can just finish off with 6 laps of Indian File" after a tough session, we would all do it willingly and Ray would do it with us and have us laughing, so the time (and the pain) went quickly and we had a great time.  There was very little "wingeing" about how hard we were training even on freezing nights or pouring rain.

Ray would also act as the umpires' trainer during the finals, giving rub downs before and after games. Ray would often be caught out playing pranks on the umpires, such as tying boots (yes we had white boots back then) laces together, tipping cold water over umpires in the showers or applying Deep Heat to umpires underwear after the game - he enjoyed that 30 seconds or so before the "heat" kicked in and the unsuspecting umpire quickly trying to undress to ease the pain.

Despite these pranks, Ray was a real gentleman in every sense of the word.  He was a stickler for punctuality, he insisted on every umpire being well presented before, during and after games - he did these things by example and was always immaculately dressed and groomed.

However Ray's true strength was the way many of the umpires, even the older ones, had Ray as a mentor, not just in football issues, but for all matter of issues that arose in their lives.  Grown men trusted Ray with their secret stories, fears and hopes and they knew he would keep these to himself, always.

To many, Ray was a "father figure" and helped those who came to him find their own solutions, as he rarely told anyone exactly what to do.  But his caring was always there and he would remember things that that were important in your life, such as wives and family details, your job issues and other interests in your life.

Ray set the culture for the "Umpiring Family", work ethic and team work for many years at the SUA.

Ray had a huge impact on many people in local footy, be it as a player or coach at Mornington Football Club or at the Southern Umpires Association.