11/09/2026
🏳️ONE LAST GAME FOR NICHO🏳️
This Saturday’s HDFNL Under 17s Grand Final will be the final game for one of our longest-serving and most respected umpires, Ian “Nicho” Nicholson, as he prepares to hang up the flags after an extraordinary umpiring career.
Although, knowing Nicho, perhaps he’ll be hanging up the hammer as well. 🔨😂
For years, Nicho has been known to travel with a hammer and nails in his umpiring bag. If a changeroom didn’t have enough hooks to hang his clothes, he didn’t complain — he simply added one himself.
Problem solved.
There are probably changerooms right across the region that are a little better equipped because Nicho once decided they needed renovating.
Nicho began umpiring in 1982 and has gone on to officiate 950+ games, including numerous Grand Finals and representative appointments.
Across more than four decades, his reliability, experience, service and contribution to umpiring have earned him enormous respect throughout the group and the wider football community.
Congratulations on an incredible career, Nicho. We hope you enjoy your final game on Saturday, and thank you for everything you have given to umpiring over so many years.
And thanks for the extra hooks. 🔨😂
1982–2026 💚
