The AFLUA’s oldest member Bill Yendle turned 100 years old on 4th November this year.
A stalwart of the VFL senior list from 1950 to 1970, Bill umpired a total of 441 games.
Over 396 Victorian Country Football League games (VCFL), Bill officiated a stunning 26 Grand Finals. A prolific country umpire, he covered huge swathes of territory, from Merrigum to Bairsdale, Manangatang,
Bill receiving his appreciation award.
Horsham, Euroa, Kybybolite, Bordertown, Omeo, Benalla and even the town of Penguin in Tasmania.
Country umpires like Bill travelled countless kilometres across rural Victoria by train and cab, from the border to the West, right across to the highlands in the East, often leaving on a Friday night and not returning until Sunday evening or Monday morning. The dedication of these men allowed country football to flourish, at a time when it served as an all-encompassing and binding force in regional communities, and a trip to the football club was a pilgrimage reverently carried out every Saturday.
Born on the 4th of November 1925 to parents Victor and Myrtle Yendle, Bill was brought up in Port Melbourne. Growing up under the long shadow of the First World War, and then the Great Depression, it was with humble beginnings that Bill got his first taste of umpiring. With “absolutely nothing else to do” the youth of Port Melbourne would descend on their local parks and “belt the daylights out of each other all Sunday afternoon. Well and truly in the grip of depression, the boys would play football with a rolled-up newspaper tied together with string.
After a dispute with the umpire over a bad decision, Bill was challenged to see if he could do any better himself.
“I said I couldn’t do any worse, so I got the whistle.
“I started with no boundaries, the goal umpires weren’t exactly trustworthy, and the timekeepers were just as bad.
“You had to throw the ball in yourself, and you had to run around and catch them cheating.”
From umpiring unofficial and chaotic Sunday games in the rough and ready suburbs of south Melbourne in front of crowds of wharf labourers, painters and dockers, Bill was scouted by VFL umpires and offered a chance to join the VFL reserve panel.
After two years on the reserve grade list (1948-1949), Bill quickly earned promotion to the senior panel, where he’d stay for 21 years. Despite never making the cut for a Senior VFL game, Bill did officiate 7 VFL seconds games, making onto the MCG at least once.
Bill Yendle (from middle, second on left) at a VFLUA dinner.
After retiring as a running umpire, Bill was approached by Jack Hamilton to act as umpire’s observer for the VFL, requiring him to watch country games and keep a close eye on up-and-coming umpires. He held the role for eighteen years, from 1972 until 1990.
Still maintaining his connection with the Association thanks to X-Umpire co-ordinator Terry O’Donnell’s country trips, Bill received a visit from some of the x-umps for his 100th birthday.
To put into perspective Bill’s incredible achievement, here is a list of some things that he’s older than: sliced bread (1928), the first appearance of Mickey Mouse (1928), the first ever TV (1927), the discovery of Penicillin (1928), the first “talking” movie (1928).
Over his years observing footy, he’s witnessed many greats come and go, along with innumerable rule changes and developments in our great game.
With his years of experience in the bush, Bill has endless anecdotes and stories from his umpiring days, which, as a talented raconteur, he gladly tells.
Congratulations on reaching 100 years young Bill!