Gareth Greenfield earns his golden whistle
New Zealand hockey umpire Gareth Greenfield has reached an impressive milestone in his career, umpiring his 100th international test match in a match between the Black Sticks and Australia. With a 15-year international career, Greenfield has become a respected and admired figure in the world of hockey.
Greenfield reminisced about his first game in Pukekohe in 2008, where New Zealand faced Chile. He recalled, “It was pretty special and still is. When I look back at that and see photos of me out there, I was just a pup running around.” He went on to describe the initial feeling of awe, saying it was “a case of getting through, like a possum in headlights.”
When reflecting on his longevity and success on the turf, Greenfield emphasized the importance of enjoying the experience. He stated, “I think it’s about enjoying yourself. I’ve gone through some phases where it wasn’t enjoyable at tournaments, with pretty dark nights after games and not being happy with the way things were going.” He mentioned a change in mindset over the past five years, focusing on doing his best without worrying about uncontrollable factors.
Discussing the mental and physical preparation needed for professional umpiring, Greenfield explained, “For me, it’s about getting out there and umpiring week in and week out, with games under my belt.” He emphasized the importance of reflecting on past performances, discussing situations with fellow umpires, players, and coaches, and understanding the tactics used by teams.
Looking back at his 100 test matches, Greenfield recalled some standout moments, particularly the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, where he umpired India versus Malaysia. He recounted, “Craig Gribble told me this will be something I hadn’t experienced before, with the big stadium in Delhi and the noise of a home Indian crowd. The play coming towards me and the crowd just lifting and lifting—it was out of this world, how noisy it was.” Other memorable experiences include umpiring India and New Zealand in Christchurch and the recent Men’s World Cup.
For those aspiring to become international umpires, Greenfield offered some advice: “Do the hard graft, enjoy your umpiring. If you’re not enjoying it, you’re not going to keep at it. You’ve got to enjoy not only being out there on the field but also the camaraderie that comes with it off the field.”
As Gareth Greenfield celebrates this extraordinary achievement, his journey serves as a source of inspiration for upcoming umpires and the entire hockey community.