Denmark-Walpole umpire Clayton Buckley banned for 18-months and deregistered as an official by WA Football

A Great Southern Football League volunteer and umpire has been whacked with an 18-month suspension and deregistered as a football official for an incident at a football match in Albany in May. Denmark-Walpole umpire and volunteer Clayton Buckley was handed the lengthy suspension by the WA Football Commission at a tribunal hearing in May after an altercation during a round three colts match between North Albany and Denmark-Walpole at Collingwood Park on May 11. He has also been banned from attending games at Collingwood Park by North Albany Football Club. The Advertiser understands that an intoxicated Mr Buckley became hostile towards North Albany supporters during the colts game and refused to leave when asked by host club officials. The 54-year-old was eventually restrained by police officers and ejected from the venue. Mr Buckley had been at the ground to umpire a 16s game and stayed to watch the rest of the day’s matches as a spectator. Mr Buckley was charged by Albany police with obstructing public officers and failing to leave a licensed premises when required to do so by an authorised person. He appeared in Albany Magistrates Court on June 6 without legal representation and pleaded not guilty to the two charges. He told the court he would be represented at trial and confirmed that he was at the club on the day of the alleged offences. Magistrate Richard Huston set Mr Buckley’s bail with a $500 personal undertaking. It was the second altercation of the evening after an ugly brawl broke out between spectators at Retravision Stadium following the round three clash between Royals and Albany. GSFL chair Terry Eaton said “this behaviour is not tolerated at any football match at any level” but denied spectator behaviour and alcohol consumption were an issue. “Football is about families and celebrating young blokes having a kick of the footy and having a good day out,” Eaton said. “We’re trying to promote the game and not focus on these 15-second things that take away from the seven hours of brilliant football we’ve had. “There is not an issue with spectator behaviour and there is always stuff going out to clubs about spectator behaviour, we hope the clubs really take it on board. “He (Mr Buckley) has been a good servant for many years and we fully support him to attend other league venues and volunteer in any way he can in the future.” Magpies president Sam Keenan was disappointed with the suspension, particularly as those involved in the Retravision Stadium scuffle avoided penalties. “It’s obviously disappointing to lose a volunteer and I think it could have been handled better by the league,” Keenan said. “You look at the findings of the Albany and Royals game who effectively got hit with a lettuce leaf and this got put straight to country football.” “Football is his (Buckley’s) life and now he is not allowed to umpire anymore.” In a statement on June 19, the WA Football Commission confirmed Mr Buckley was suspended for 18 months and deregistered as a football official after a WAFC tribunal on May 23 found him guilty of “bringing the game into disrepute and breaching the Umpire’s Code of Conduct”. Mr Buckley will next appear in Albany Magistrates Court on October 22 for a trial allocation.