AFL Tasmania is pleased to announce a new inductee to the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame, a staple of southern Tasmanian umpiring for 20 years, Haydyn Nielsen.
Born in 1949, Nielsen took up umpiring as a teenager, commencing as a boundary umpire with the Tasmanian Football League Umpires Association (TFLUA) in 1967.
He quickly established himself as a rising star in the southern umpiring fraternity, selected to run the boundary in two senior TFL Grand Finals and several representative matches, the highlight of which being selection for the famous 1970 State clash between Tasmania and Western Australia at North Hobart Oval.
Nielsen subsequently switched to field umpiring from the 1971 season, going on to take control of 182 senior TFL games and nearly 350 in total in leagues across Southern Tasmania over the next 16 years, a tally which included no less than 13 grand finals.
Regarded as one of the state’s most respected whistleblowers, further representative honours naturally came his way, including his greatest honour of selection as Tasmania’s representative at the 1980 State of Origin Carnival in Adelaide.
Nielsen volunteered his time and efforts in a number of coaching and administration roles such as TFLUA Fitness Coach and a four-year stint on the TFLUA committee.
Through it all he remained one of southern football’s most well-regarded men in white, selected to officiate senior TFL Grand Finals in 1977 and 1986 before hanging up his whistle at the end of the 1987 season, the same year in which his illustrious contribution to umpiring was officially recognised with TFLUA Life Membership.
Outside of football, Nielsen has been an outstanding contributor to his local community, and was the recipient of an Order of Australia in the 2015 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for “service to local government, the community of Glenorchy, and to sport”.
His various roles have included serving as an Alderman with Glenorchy City Council for more than a decade (including three years as Deputy Mayor), and as a mainstay of the Tasmanian athletics scene, with strong involvement in events such as the Point to Pinnacle and City to Casino.
Haydyn Nielsen will be honoured alongside his fellow Hall of Fame inductees at AFL Tasmania’s night of nights later this month.
For the first time since the inaugural Hall of Fame Gala Dinner – Icons Royce Hart, Peter Hudson and Ian Stewart will all be in attendance, offering a special opportunity to talk to the trio in an exciting time for the game in Tasmania.
The night will feature five new inductees, one Icon elevation and the induction of George Town’s legendary team that won eight flags in a row from 2002 – 2009.
The Gala Dinner taking place on Friday February 28 at My State Bank Arena.
Tickets are available now for $185 each, to book your seat please email events@afltas.com.au