Craig Fisher Awarded Football NSW Referees Branch Life Membership

Football NSW Referees Branch has proudly awarded Life Membership to Craig Fisher in recognition of his outstanding service and lasting contribution to refereeing in New South Wales.

The honour was presented at the Referees Branch pre-season seminar, marking a significant milestone in a distinguished officiating career.

Craig began his refereeing journey at the state level after registering with NSW State League Football Referees in 2010. He initially made his mark as an assistant referee, officiating in a number of high-profile fixtures including the Super League Men’s Grand Final in 2011. His early career highlights also include an appointment to the prestigious Dallas Cup in 2013 and serving as Assistant Referee 1 for the NPL Men’s Under 20s Grand Final.

Transitioning to the referee role in the middle, Craig continued to excel. In 2015, he was appointed to officiate the State League One Grand Final, the same year he was named Football NSW State League Referee of the Year. His rapid development was further recognised in 2016 when he received the NSW State League Referees’ Most Improved Referee of the Year award.

Craig’s contribution extended well beyond the field of play. In 2017, he was selected as Fourth Official for the Waratah Cup Grand Final, a year that also marked the beginning of his service in management and leadership roles within NSW State League Football Referees. Elected by his peers as a Floor Member, he went on to serve a second term before being appointed Junior Vice President in 2019—a volunteer role he held with distinction for five consecutive years. Throughout this period, Craig demonstrated strong leadership, regularly leading training sessions and providing valuable support at fitness testing.

On the field, Craig was a familiar and respected presence across NSW competitions, officiating in NPL, League 1, League 2 and the Waratah Cup as a fourth official, while also taking charge of finals and play-off fixtures. A career highlight came in 2022 when he officiated the Waratah Cup Grand Final as referee.

Members of the Football NSW Referees Branch spoke unanimously in support of Craig’s Life Membership nomination, highlighting his warmth, approachability and professionalism. He was particularly praised for the way he protected and supported his assistant referees on the field—a quality that left a lasting impression on many young officials making their NPL debuts under his guidance.

The 2025 season marked the conclusion of Craig’s on-field refereeing career, with his final appointment coming in the Play-Off Final on 12 September 2025. While he has now put the whistle down, his influence, mentorship and contribution to refereeing in New South Wales will continue to be felt for many years to come.

Football NSW congratulates Craig Fisher on a remarkable career and the well-deserved awarding of Football NSW Referees Branch Life Membership.

The full list of Football NSW Referees Branch Life Members can be found here