Okaley Dokely umpire-inos, he we go-diddly-o with our final milestone of the year. With another bumper weekend of local footy at its best, we take time out to honour one of our Springfield favourites, Ned Flanders, currently moonlighting as EFL goal umpire David Latchford. With timing as perfect as his flag waving, Latch will step onto East Burwood Reserve in Sunday’s Div 3 Reserves GrandFinal in his 500th game. There have been many highlights in a stellar career, but we don’t need to rehash them here. No sir-ee, we will focus on a couple of efforts that would make Ned’s arch nemesis Homer Simpson proud. Earlier this season, in just round 2, Latch was patrolling the goal line in one of the big Division 1 games of the season featuring the all conquering Balwyn Tigers. With an eye on the pill, he was unceremoniously bowled over by a Tiger back pocket the size of a dwarf. To be honest, his balance could have been better and a bit of core work would not go astray! There temperature that day was nudging 30, but as sure as the sun rises in the east, there was Dave in his trusty thermals. Every game. Rain, hail, or shine. Dave will be donning the thermals. Here’s hoping that after 499 games, he treats himself to a new pair for the milestone Grand Final! A week after his big game, we have a big night at Springfield Hall and I seem to recall an evening a year or so ago where Latch could not find his keys. Having traipsed around the gridiron field at training, he deduced that his keys must have fallen out of his pocket. So under the glare of the lights, his fellow umpires formed a search party whilst Dave searched his pockets and bag and anything else in a 2 metre radius - over and over and over and... As time passed (VERY slowly) and search party numbers dwindled, a cry from the dark revealed the concealed keys! Latch’s own desperate, yet unmoving, efforts located the booty… in his 7-time searched bag!!! Call him what you like – Dave, Ned, Latch, Flanders, Hey You - It must be said of David, that his work with fingers and flags over the years has been exemplary… we raise a glass of cider in a toast to the great man. Here’s to David Latchford.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 12:24:03 +0000
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