After covering 1100 football matches this season Bay of Plenty's 54 football referees celebrated the end of another busy year at their annual dinner and prizegiving.

The Bay referees are part of the WaiBOP Federation covering games as far afield as Taupo, Whakatane, and Hamilton.

Paul Van der Salm, Daniel Wilkinson, Geoff Morgan, Paul Shakes, Gordon Campbell, and Andrew Mitchell.

Games from both Federation-wide and local Bay leagues include senior men and women leagues, youth leagues as well as helping out at premier junior games.

The more elite referees are also involved with the Northern League in the upper North Island.

Mark Hester refereed games at the national league ASB Premiership before resigning to take up the role of referee fitness instructor for the whole of Oceania part way through the year.

The referees also assist with a number of junior tournaments including Blue Rovers Vincent green, Aims Games, Papamoa Junior all-grades, NZ Secondary Schools and Weir Rose bowl.

A successful youth academy was also run this year involving 12 youth up to 16-years-old. A highlight was sending the two top youth – Greg White and Daniel Wilkinson – to the Kanga Cup in Canberra.

This is an Australia-wide youth competition and the two teenagers did themselves proud with Greg being an assistant referee on the under 17 boys final and Daniel an assistant referee on the under 14 girls final.

Another highlight was Paul Shakes, Gordon Campbell and Nigel Hatfield attending national senior referee development academies where they all acquitted themselves very well.

Trophies awarded were:

Alexander McLennan Trophy for the most promising referee – Martin Huang

Bill Rothwell Patrons Trophy for attendance, training, and loyalty – Andrew Mitchell

President's Trophy for outstanding merit to referees and the game – Paul Van der Salm

Most promising youth referee – Daniel Wilkinson

Assistant Referee of the Year – Geoff Morgan

Referee's Referee of the Year (by popular vote) – Paul Shakes

BOP Referee of the Year – Gordon Campbell