Sport
13 June, 2025
Newstead FNC name timekeepers box after Jim Trudgeon and Dick Burgess
The role of timekeeper is often underappreciated but is arguably just as vital to a game of football as any player, coach, or umpire.
For the Newstead Football Netball Club (FNC), that integral position was filled by two men for multiple decades, Jim Trudgeon and Dick Burgess.
To recognise and celebrate their willingness to monitor the stopwatch for countless games, Newstead FNC has renamed their timekeeper’s box after Trudgeon and Burgess.
Officially unveiled at Newstead’s last home game against Talbot, Trudgeon said the pair were completely surprised by the announcement and thankful for the recognition.
“It meant a whole lot, I broke down, I couldn’t take it, it was such a shock,” he said.
“Samantha Chapman, who had a fair bit to do with the new name, said we have got something extra special after the reserves.
“She took us and walked us down through the gate, I saw there was a ladder on the box out the front, and our names were covered up with a cloth.
“The players all came over and then they lifted the cloth off and we saw our names there and I nearly dropped, I never had a clue until it happened.
“It was an emotional time, a really special day and it’s nice to know the club appreciates what we have done and we appreciate how they have helped us too.”
After their son and daughter started playing football and netball for the Steaders, Trudgeon and his wife wanted to become more involved with the club and started volunteering.
Trudgeon took over timekeeper duties from Charlie Reece Sr. in the 1980s, monitoring almost every senior and under 17.5 game before stepping away two years ago.
After spending roughly thousands of hours in arguably the best seat in the house, Trudgeon said his fondest memories are from the club’s highest moments on the field.
“My only memories are when they won the premierships, the seniors won three while I was timekeeping and the under 17s have won a couple while I was doing them too,” he said.
“It gives you a bit of a build-up when there’s only five minutes to go and you know how far ahead they are.”
Similarly to Trudgeon, Burgess was looking for avenues to assist around the club after his eldest son became a trainer for the seniors.
Even after his youngest kids and grandkids finished their junior careers at Newstead, Burgess remained as the reserves timekeeper for over 30 years.
“We got to know the timekeepers of the other clubs, we got to know all the players and we liked to help them out with the timekeepers because we liked it,” Burgess said.
“They didn’t have to worry about who was going to do the timekeeping, every game home or away we were happy to do it.
“The hardest part was when you had to be at the ground at 9 am down somewhere like Trentham.”
Alongside their recent gesture of appreciation, Newstead FNC previously awarded Trudgeon and Burgess life memberships for their continued dedication to the club.
Trudgeon said that love and respect goes both ways.
“I think without the football club there would be something missing in the town — I don’t know what I would do without the Newstead FNC,” he said.
“We love the club, they are very good to us and couldn’t do enough to help us.”