If anyone could truly sell ice to Eskimos, as the old saying goes, it would have to be the subject of my next ‘where are they now?’, Jim ‘Chappy’ Chapman.
Not only did Jim have a successful umpiring career (more on that later), but he spent most of his working life as a Hotel Broker, selling hotels, motels and caravan parks. He was so successful that he was made Victorian State Manager of Resort Brokers Australia. This was understandable as his personality and drive propelled him towards promotion.
Born on the 15th of February 1946 to James & Jean Chapman in the Royal Women’s Hospital, it was in Thornbury where Jim and his sisters Joyce, Kathleen & Dorothy would grow up.
In 1951 Jim attended Penders Grove Primary School before graduating to Preston Technical College in 1957. Jim’s interest in football came from playing football with the primary school and he became a follower of Fitzroy in the VFL.
1963 saw Jim apply for a position with James Hood as an accountant. He would hold that position for many years before becoming the company secretary. Overall he stayed with James Hood for 18 years. It was during this time that Jim – wanting to keep fit and encouraged by a family friend to join under the coaching of Ivan Brooks who was on the VFL list for several years – applied to umpire in the Preston & District Junior Football Association (PDJFA).
Jim’s umpiring career started in 1965 – 66 with the PDJFA. Ivan was also Secretary of the Fitzroy Football club in 1967 for half the season. From that era in the PDJFA at least eight umpires have gone on to umpire senior VFL/AFL Football
On the 13th May 1967 Jim who was playing squash at the Thornbury Courts and met a lovely lady named Lesley who just happened to be Women’s Squash No. 4 in Australia and No.13 in the world. They struck up a relationship and after four years married in 1971. Today they have 3 children, Kelly, Andrew & Sarah with 6 grandchildren.
In 1967 Jim responded to an advertisement for umpires on the VFL Reserve Grade where his first game was at Goulburn Valley 2nds, Tongala v. Stanhope. Bill Yendle had the Senior game that day. The following year Jim was appointed emergency for the Under 19’s 2nd Semi Final to Barry Farrow.
This appointment saw Jim promoted onto the senior list for season 1970. Training at Royal Park his first appointment was in the Benalla/Tungamah F.L. Dookie 14.9 d. Shepparton East 7.11 but three more years running around the bush and several good observer reports Jim was promoted onto the Olympic Park track.
On the 3rd June 1972 Jim was appointed to his first reserve grade game at VFL Park, Essendon 9.13 d. Fitzroy 7.9. He finished the year with 3 reserve games and 6 finals in the VCFL including a grand final in the Murray F.L. where Deniliquin 12.17 d. Finley 9.17.
Early in the 1973 season after umpiring several reserve grade games Jim was appointed to his first senior game. He debuted at VFL Park where Nth Melb. 18.16 d. Sth Melb. 11.14. This game was notable for the debut of North Melbourne big man Mick Nolan, famously nicknamed the “Galloping Gasometer”. The two captains that day were Sam Kekovich for North Melbourne and Peter Bedford for South Melbourne.
Jim umpired most of the 1974 season in the seniors. A keen Fitzroy supporter, Jim had Fitzroy 8 times in his first 20 games and you guessed it; they won none. The President of Fitzroy Ern Joseph asked Jim to stop barracking for them. When it came to the business end of the season Jim was appointed to the seniors 1st semi-final at the MCG, Hawthorn 21.13 d. Collingwood 13.10. The Umpires’ Board were impressed with his performance and appointed Jim to the reserve’s grand final. Fitzroy 26.13 d. Footscray 16.12 at the MCG.
In 1975 Jim lost his place in the senior panel and umpired most of the year in the reserves. Over the next two years Jim found himself in and out of the seniors until 1978 when another good year saw Jim appointed to the senior’s 2nd semi-final at VFL Park. Hawthorn 12.15 d. Nth Melb. 10.13, with Bill Deller Jim’s umpiring partner on the day.
In the first quarter Jim was knocked out by Leigh Mathews. As was the done thing at the time, Jim pushed through to finish the game, however he has no memory of it today. In that game Jim reported Peter ‘Crackers’ Keenan for striking Don Scott. Crackers would received two weeks and missed the grand final. Jim’s performance earned him the appointment to the reserves grand final; Nth Melb. 17.29 d. Hawthorn 11.13 at the MCG.
Middleman Sports Equipment was set up by Jim in 1978 which enable him to sell to the VFL Umpires equipment. Jim also spent time throughout Asia for his employer.
Back to umpiring; 1979 was the same as the year before where Jim umpired all season in the seniors and earned appointment to the seniors 2nd semi-final, then the reserves grand final, this time with Rowan Sawers as partner. The year concluded with Jim receiving his life membership of the VFLUA.
In 1981 Jim was part of the negotiating committee with the VFL for a pay rise and later that year joined the umpires committee signing Statewide Building Society in their run around Victoria for charity. Jim was elected
Jim sitting next to then Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations Bob Hawke at the 1982 VFLUA Annual Dinner.
Junior Vice President in ’81 which meant he would be President in 1983. Unfortunately, midway through 1982 Jim was told that he would not be appointed to the list next year, so he decided to retire. His last game on the list was at VFL Park on the 5th June in the reserves Fitzroy 15.16 d. Footscray 14.12. His partner in the field was David Howlett.
Jim’s tally of games reads like so: 130 VFL games including 3 semi-finals; 49 reserves games; 3 reserve grand finals; 1 inter-state game in Nth Hobart; 95 VCFL games; 14 VCFL Finals; 13 VCFL Grand Finals in the following leagues; Latrobe Valley x 2, Sth West Dist, Ballarat, Bendigo, Western Border, Hampden, Nth Central x 2, Northern Dist., Sunraysia, Tallangatta & Murray. Jim had 8 VCFL Representative games.
Beginning in 1983, for four years Jim was coach of the VFA umpires, assisted by former VFL umpire Ken Quinn. During this time Jim negotiated with the VFL for promising young umpires to be appointed to the reserve grade games. This initiative saw some VFA umpires given their first opportunity on the VFL list.
In 1986 after 23 years with James Hood and Barrett Burston Jim decided to move into the Pub business and installed a boutique brewery in the Station Hotel in Prahran. Over the next 6 years Jim remained in the hotel business operating four hotels with Ken Quinn.
In 1992 Jim went back to work for an employee as a Business Broker with Johnson Business Brokers and then T.J.Board. In 1999 Jim became Victorian State Manager at Resort Brokers Australia and remained with them until retirement in 2019.
Today in retirement Jim exercises by walking each day, but his main concern is being the primary carer for his wife of 55 years Lesley.
Jim loves today’s football and is still an enthusiastic Lions supporter and plays the occasional game of golf.
You’ve been a busy man Jim, good luck with everything in the future, see you at the Umpires’ Lunch in Caulfield.
Graeme ‘Wizzer’ Fellows