Football Federation SA (FFSA) match official Daniel Cook will referee his second consecutive National Premier Leagues (NPL) Grand Final on Saturday when Campbelltown City meet Adelaide Comets at Coopers Stadium.
The 24-year-old was announced earlier this month as a new addition to the Hyundai A-League Match Official ranks as a Fourth Official for the upcoming 2019-20 season. He will be joined on the match on Saturday evening by Assistant Referees Aaron Galanti and Cole Davy, with Daniel Elder as Fourth Official.
Following on from their successful introduction at the 2018 Grand Finals, ‘shadow referees’ will again be joining the match officials on each of the Senior Grand Finals. The four shadow referees have been selected from the group of young, up-and-coming match officials to give them an experience of what Grand Final day at Hindmarsh is all about.
The shadow referee will be an additional team member for the referees during the week and will be involved in pre-match duties with the referee team on the field and in the change rooms. This includes the pitch inspection, pre-match discussions and warm-ups with the refereeing team. They will also get to toss the coin prior to the match in front of the large crowd that is destined to assemble in the stands at Hindmarsh Stadium on Saturday.
2019 Best First Year Junior Referee Argyle Groff has been selected as the shadow referee for the Men’s NPL match. He will have a front-row seat to the action unfolding before and during the match, as well as being involved in the post-match debriefing with the match officials team and the match assessor, Michelle Smith.
The Women’s NPL Grand Final between ‘Derby’ rivals Adelaide City and West Adelaide will be refereed by Curtis Wordsworth. He will be assisted by Westfield W-League Assistant Referee Paula Orlandi and Jackie Megson, with Garry Powers the Fourth Official.
Modbury Jets’ clash with Cumberland United will be officiated by experienced whistleblower Christian Verdicchio. This will be Verdicchio’s second appearance on this fixture in as many years, having been involved as Fourth Official for last years State League 1 decider.
The State League 2 Grand Final will be refereed by Henry Day, making his first appearance as a referee on a Senior final. Day has built off his experiences at the 2018 National Youth Championships for Boys held in Coffs Harbour last September and has had an excellent first season as a Senior referee.
2018 National Premier League SA Grand Final Referee: Daniel Cook Assistant Referee 1: Aaron Galanti Assistant Referee 2: Cole Davy Fourth Official: Daniel Elder Match Assessor: Michelle Smith Shadow Referee: Argyle Groff
2018 Women’s National Premier League SA Grand Final Referee: Curtis Wordsworth Assistant Referee 1: Paula Orlandi Assistant Referee 2: Jackie Megson Fourth Official: Garry Powers Match Assessor: Ray Grima Shadow Referee: Sophie Van Den Heuvel
2018 State League 1 Grand Final Referee: Christian Verdicchio Assistant Referee 1: Torin Cooper Assistant Referee 2: Liam Miller Fourth Official: Gary Mooney Match Assessor: Peter van de Zwaag Shadow Referee: Derek Jackson
2018 State League 2 Grand Final Referee: Henry Day Assistant Referee 1: Ian Crossing Assistant Referee 2: Finley Drewniak Sandery Fourth Official: Eric Ford Sestili Match Assessor: Paul Duncan Shadow Referee: Clay Conway
2018 Referee Awards Most Improved Level 2 Referee: Garry Powers Most Improved Level 3 Referee: Ian Crossing Best First Year Referee: Argyle Groff Community Referee of the Year: Mark Taylor