Umpires appreciated in SWFL round

Umpires will be recognised before all this weekend's South West Football League matches, as the league celebrates Umpires Appreciation round.

More than 60 umpires will officiate in 15 games across the weekend, playing a pivotal but sometimes unrecognised role in the league's success.

SWFL umpires coordinator Kevin Nettleton said in a lot of ways, being an umpire was a thankless role in football.

"In more cases the feedback we are getting back from the clubs is positive," he said.

"We also take a significant amount of money from the league, so it is a big cost to the SWFL and most of the time we're not recognised or acknowledged.

"They have volunteer's appreciation weekend and umpires are an essential part of football."

The idea for the weekend came from SWFL umpires president Jason Crowe and was agreed on by the league executive.