Tanya de Boer (left) will officiate in soccer’s W-League semi-finals this weekend.

By Amanda Sproule | The Northern Star - 11th December 2009

From humble beginnings as a junior grade referee for Football Far North Coast (FFNC), Tanya de Boer has just been selected to referee in the W-League semi-finals.

“It’s always an honour to do these types of games,” she said.

“I’m very excited for it this weekend.”

When Sydney take on Canberra at Shark Park in Cronulla this weekend, de Boer will be assistant referee, with years of preparation at FFNC readying her for the big matches.

“FFNC were very, very supportive of me and always pushed me to do the bigger games,” she said.

FFNC general manager Steve Mackney said Tanya had progressed well since being named FFNC referee of the year in 2008.

“It’s her second consecutive appointment with the W-League,” Mackney said.

“She was the first female referee in FFNC to be appointed centre official in the premier men’s competition, which is a massive achievement.”

Mackney said de Boer had shown that opportunities as a referee exist just as much for female referees as they do for male referees.

“She cut her teeth here and worked her way up being selected from FFNC into the W-League,” he said.

“She moved to Newcastle in part to pursue her refereeing career, and we are very proud of her.”

Now refereeing games in Newcastle, 26-year-old de Boer is hoping to further her refereeing career.

“Once you are up at that level there is a lot more visibility and you are well-poised to do international games,” she said.

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