The future of Waipā, and Waikato, football is likely already safe in the hands of Cambridge’s Liam Weston – and they’re about to get safer.
In his fourth year as a referee, Liam, 17, – who has already overseen games in both Cambridge and Te Awamutu – will attend the 2023 KEEPUP Kanga Cup in Canberra early next month.
Liam Weston on the pitch.
The week-long 2023 cup, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest international youth football tournament, will draw nearly 300 teams from around Australia.
Liam’s been selected for the cup’s 2023 Referee Youth Academy – he’ll receive intensive coaching and mentoring, with a focus on developing referees in that tournament environment.
There will theory-based coaching nights and, most importantly, opportunities to officiate games, he says.
All in the name of helping him improve.
Liam’s delighted to be going.
“It’s an amazing opportunity to sharpen up my refereeing. There’re always ways to get better.”
He began playing football at five, taking up refereeing when he started at Hamilton Boys’ High School (HBHS) in Year 9, at 13.
His parents encouraged him to go to the school’s Referees Youth Academy facilitated by WaiBOP Football Federation’s Waikato referee youth development coordinator, Nadia Browning.
He loved it.
“I was hooked,” he says.
“Refereeing gives me a broader understanding of the rules, and it’s improved my all round skills when it comes to both playing and refereeing.
“I can use my growing knowledge of one sphere to complement the other, and vice versa,” he said.
WaiBOP referee manager Campbell-Kirk (CK) Kawana-Waugh is headed to Canberra too, Liam said.
Currently a level one referee, Liam’s weekends are full.
Most Saturday’s he’s assistant referee “on the line” – a role he undertakes in both Northern League – which includes teams from the Bombay Hills to the far north – and WaiBOP games.
WaiBOP wise, he’s assisted in overseeing teams like Hamilton Wanderers, Melville United, Cambridge Football Club and Te Awamutu AFC.
On most Sundays, he referees youth games.
“I always like the teams I’m overseeing to know I’m in control – that they’re in safe hands.
“When I’m refereeing, I strive to make the best possible decisions to make the game fair.”
Liam enjoys the variety refereeing affords him.
“In being appointed to officiate a wide range of matches, I obviously experience a broad range of football. I love that.
“It’s really cool meeting other referees too. When you think about it, we’re like a third team each game.”
On the playing front, Liam is a left winger for HBHS’ second XI team in what’s called the Premier Division against other high schools’ first XI teams.
“When I’m playing, I love the thrill of being in the action and on the ball.”
This season – it’s early stages – the team has a win, a loss and draw, sitting roughly mid table.
“We’re going alright.”
With his refereeing aspirations after Canberra, he aims to keep pushing himself and growing.
One day Liam wants to officiate a FIFA World Cup or UEFA Champions League fixture.
“Basically nocturnal” during last year’s world cup, he watched every possible game.
He’s a Bayern München fan – regularly watching the side take the field in Germany’s Bundesliga football league and the UEFA Champions League.
“I like Bayern player Jamal Musiala – he’s wonderful to watch and so skillful.”
As Liam is keen to further the broader game of football, he’s also grateful to those who’ve already taken an interest in helping him further his own, including Nadia, CK, Peter Caffell and referee Hamzi Mahagna.
