Delovski to call time on refereeing career

When the final whistle sounds on the Hyundai A-League season the competition will say goodbye to a big part of its 11-year history.

Wollongong’s Strebre Delovski will call full-time on his refereeing career at the end of the finals series after a storied 25 year career in the middle.

The popular match official, who was named by the Professional Footballers Association as A-League Referee of the Decade last year, has paved the way for many young referees after first getting his start in the Illawarra league in 1990 at the age of 15.

It has led to a roll call of achievements across a career spanning more than two decades including A-League grand finals, FIFA internationals, Asian Champions League finals and a bevy of local and international awards.

“I look back fondly on all the wonderful moments and opportunities I have had as a result of refereeing,” Delovski said.

“I was forced to pick between playing and refereeing when I was 18. Little did I know my decision would lead me to so many wonderful experiences.

“It has been an honour to have refereed at such a high level and to have met so many incredible people along the way.

The former Coniston Football Club junior player was given his refereeing debut in the Illawarra Premier League in 1990 before officiating in the NSW Premier league for a number a seasons.

In 2005, Delovski earned his big break when he was called up to referee two A-League matches in the burgeoning competition’s first season.

“I will never forget my first games in the Hyundai A-League. I was terrible,” he said.

“In my first match I was the referee in Newcastle when they played Brisbane and I sent two players off.

“In my second match there was a melee in the opening minutes and once again I had to send a few players off.

“After being stuck as a fourth official all through season two I was given a chance to referee in Wellington when they played Perth. I must have had a good game cause my career really took off from there.”

In 2009 Delovski was promoted to the FIFA referee panel which lead to officiating international matches at the East Asian Football Championships and the 2010 Hyundai A-League final between Sydney FC and Melbourne victory.

The father of two is looking forward to spending his time away from refereeing with his family.

“While I will be retiring my whistle I won’t be too far away from football,” Delovski said.

“I work as a referee coach for Illawarra District and I can’t wait to spend more time helping out the next generation of referee’s from the South Coast.

“I encourage as many people as possible to give refereeing a go. It is a vital part of our game and it can lead to some incredible opportunities.”

Football NSW Referee Manager and fellow Hyundai A-League referee Kris Griffiths-Jones praised Delovski’s referee achievements and applauded the whistleblowers tenure as one of the leading officials in Australia.

“Strebre’s been a fantastic asset to all match officials over the last 25 years.

“He’s had a great career spanning from officiating FIFA International matches to high profile Hyundai A-League games to our very own elite Premier League ones.

“I am pleased that he will still be part of the sport within the local South Coast area.”