Ray Sandell OAM

Ray was born 1932 in Staines, England. He migrated to Australia in March 1954.

He played football in England before coming to Australia, including Chelsea (London) Reserve team.

In 1955, he played for the then Leichhardt Annandale in NSW First Division. Due to lack of transport and work commitments he had to stop playing for Leichhardt.

In 1956 to 1967 he played local football in the Nepean area. In 1968 joined the Australian Soccer Referees Federation (ASRF).

He progressed through the ranks until 1976 when was promoted to the NSW First Division Referees Panel. Appointed as a linesman to the original Philips National League in 1976.

He was subsequently appointed to National League referees panel in year of his retirement as a referee in 1983 due to a knee injury.

He was appointed Life Member of the ASRF in 1984 Ray remained as National League Referees’ lnspector until 1996, making him the longest serving referees official in the National League at that time, having served twenty consecutive years as either linesman, referee or referee inspector.

He acted as National Youth League Referees’ Appointments Officer, for two years in 1981 and 1982. He was the National Vice President of the ASRF two years, NSW State President of the ASRF four years and was appointed to the position of NSW Soccer Federation Referees Appointment Officer in 1986 and held that position until 1995.

He was an active member of the then Australian Soccer Federation National Referees Committee, 1986 to 1988 and acted as FIFA's Referees Liaison Officer for all visiting International Referees to Sydney, Newcastle, Canberra and Wollongong from 1981 until 2004, including World Youth Cups in 1981 and 1993, and 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

In 1993 he was presented with inscribed gold wristwatch by FIFA President Havelange for services to FIFA and football, in general, and was made an Honorary FIFA Referee.

During his periods working at the two World Youth Cups, and the Sydney Olympic Games he worked closely with FIFA personnel such as Sepp Blatter, Michel Zen Ruffinen, David Will and George Cumming and gained their respect, and subsequently FIFA's respect of Australian Football Referees and referee officials.

He was a member of the Soccer NSW Disciplinary Committee 1982-1994, Soccer NSW General Purpose Tribunal 1984-1994, Soccer Australia and Soccer NSW Appeals Board 1986-1994, Soccer Australia International Match Committee 1986-1994 and also assisted Soccer NSW in many other advisory capacities.

Since moving to the Central Coast in 1996, he assisted in reconstructing the Central Coast Coasties Soccer Club from an Association Representative Club to an incorporated organisation and was Chairman and a Director for that Club that played in the NSW Summer Premier League.

In 2004 he assisted in the formation of the Central Coast Academy of Sport, and has been working in a voluntary capacity as Program Assistant and Website Manager since that date.

In 2006 he was inducted into the Football Australia Hall of Fame for service to Football, both Domestic and International, over a fifty year period.

He is also a Life Member of the Parramatta Cricket Association for services to cricket during the period 1965 to 1985.

In 2008 he was honoured by the Central Coast Academy of Sport by having the Academy’s Annual award presented to volunteers named the ‘Ray Sandell Volunteer Award’.

In January 2012 he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to Football and Football Referees. At present, at the age of 80, he assists Damien Brown in the Mariner’s Schools Development Program with Primary and High School Inter School Tournaments.

He, also, assists the Donnica Clarke Foundation as Website Manager to that organisation. He has recently been appointed Secretary of the Central Coast Chapter of Men Of Football.

Hall of Fame 2006 Inductees

David Mitchell

Added: 2006
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Charlie Stewart

Added: 2006
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Peter Sharne

Added: 2006
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Ernie Campbell

Added: 2006
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Robert Zabica

Added: 2006
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Fred Villiers

Added: 2006
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Raul Blanco

Added: 2006
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Andre Kruger

Added: 2006
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Ray Sandell OAM

Added: 2006
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