HAMILTON’S Caleb Millard has been umpiring football for 10 years, and at the tender age of 24 he has taken up the whistle a staggering 400 times.

Millard is a valued member of the Western District Umpires Association (WDUA) and got to celebrate his 400th game milestone umpiring the Under-23 interleague game between Hampden FNL and Ballarat FNL last weekend.

The milestone includes all local and representative games, as well as the games Millard did as a boundary umpire earlier in his career.

The 24-year-old started his umpiring career many years ago as a boundary umpire for the WDUA, but he slowly progressed up the ranks to become a central umpire.

The milestone was unexpected for Millard who was shocked to find out in the week leading up to the representative match that he was about to reach the milestone.

“I was very surprised … it came from absolutely nowhere and as an umpire, it’s a pretty good achievement,” he told The Spectator.

“It was special to bring up the milestone in such a quick time, wouldn’t have thought that I would reach this especially (having only) been doing it for 10 years.

“I didn’t realise I’d be doing a bigger match in my milestone game which is incredible too.”

The dedicated umpire said the experience was one he would never forget, and he gained a lot of valuable knowledge officiating such a high-level match.

“(I) was relaxed when I arrived in Ballarat and fortunate enough to hold the ball up to start the match … it was awesome,” Millard said.

“It was my first match being miked up to communicate with the other umpires, which I had to wear a vest.”

Millard first learnt his trade as a boundary umpire, before taking on the challenge of learning field umpiring in a bid to add another string to his bow.

“I started (central umpiring) with the juniors in probably my third year of umpiring, just going through the ranks doing Under-14s, Under-16s, then in 2019 I started doing seniors,” he said.

“When COVID hit, I thought should I just keep doing boundary umpiring, but I thought I’d give myself a few bigger opportunities and learn a lot more as well.

“That’s where I wanted to be and where I am now as a central.”

While Millard has had plenty of highs throughout his 400 games, one distinctive memory stood out above the rest which included meeting an idol.

“Umpiring the 2017 International Cup as a boundary (umpire) which I was fortunate enough to do,” he said.

“I was fortunate enough to do the Women’s Grand Final on Marvel Stadium, which I met my idol field umpire on the day in Brett Rosebury.”