THE AFL North Coast’s umpires will look resplendent in new shirts this year thanks to a generous new sponsor.
WFI Insurance has come on board as a major sponsor of the AFL North Coast Umpires Association (NCUA) and the company’s logo will be on the front of all umpire’s shirts for the next three years.
David Rawlinson, who is not just an umpire who assists each week with the appointments for AFL North Coast matches but also works as an Authorised Representative at WFI Insurance. Dave’s work covers Rural & Livestock, Commercial, SME and Trades Insurance for the Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Yamba and Dorrigo areas.
He said there’s a synergy between the local umpires and WFI that made the creation of this partnership an obvious choice.
“WFI Insurance Mid North Coast is proud to sponsor the AFL North Coast umpires – the people who help keep community football safe, fair and running smoothly each week," Rawlinson said.
"Umpires play a vital role on and off the field, and our sponsorship helps fund training, equipment, supporting long‑term retention, making important decisions under pressure, managing risk, and upholding integrity; values that sit at the heart of WFI Insurance.
"With community sport at the centre of regional life, backing umpires is another way we help strengthen the communities that WFI customers call home."
Part of the sponsorship agreement is that all of this year’s umpires will receive for free a new umpire shirt with the WFI Insurance logo on the front.
Community Football and Competition Manager Brad Greenshields welcomes the partnership between the umpires and WFI Insurance.
“The umpiring group, often called football’s third team, is excited for the season to start so umpires can take to the footy grounds around the North Coast wearing the new shirts which look fantastic,” Greenshields said.
“While WFI’s generosity this year will see all umpires receive a free shirt, the partnership in 2027 and 2028 will see their support used to assist our umpires in other ways such as education programs and social functions to make being a part of ‘Team Green’ even more enjoyable.”