Stephen Gray has been a referee in Humboldt for 37 years and counting. (submitted photo/Stephen Gray)

By Mat Barrett

Wearing the Stripes

‘Without officials, there’s no game’: 37 years and counting in the stripes for Humboldt resident

Jul 6, 2019 | 8:00 AM

It started as a way to make some extra cash as a teenager, but it has since turned into a passion.

Humboldt resident Stephen Gray started out as a hockey official when he was 14 years old, and then got into football officiating in 2004.

Gray (middle) got to ref a game that featured some Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2014. (submitted photo/Stephen Gray)

Gray began in the Humboldt area doing high school games in the six-man and nine-man levels. He then got a chance to do a little bit of 12-man football. He said that’s when the job became something more for him.

“That’s when I kind of got the itch and see how far I can take this and branch out a little more,” Gray told northeastNOW.

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Through his years of officiating football, Gray saw plenty of different levels of the sport: from the aforementioned high school games, to the high school Senior Bowl at multiple levels, some games for the Saskatoon Valkyries, helping with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, and the Saskatoon Hilltops. Gray said one memorable experience was being able to officiate a game in Regina.

“I got to work at the old Taylor Field,” he said. “Which was kind of a thrill for me, being a Riders fan. I went to a lot of games in my life there.”

Another big event where football fans will see Gray wearing the stripes will be the Can-Am Bowl in Wakaw on July 9. The game features players from Canada and the United States in a football showcase. There will also be some other officials from the Humboldt area, as well as some from Saskatoon.

Gray said he’s always been a sports fan, but now being able to officiate, gives him a different look at the games.

“I think just being an official gives me another view that, without officials, there is no sport in my mind,” he said. “Having played the game, and played hockey, and played football, and have done some of this stuff, it just gives me a different outlook on how fortunate we are to have a game to play in the first place. And anything that I can do to help, I’ll help.”

The 51-year-old welder by trade added that he doesn’t really see an end to his officiating days yet.

“As long as I’m physically able to do it, and they still want me, I’ll be here,” Gray said. “The day they tell me to stay home, I guess I got to stay home.”

While he doesn’t see an end to his officiating days quite yet, Gray said he knows that making the pro ranks is a long shot, but he wants to see how far he can go. Whether it be U Sports, Junior Football, or even staying at the high school level while also doing senior, he said “that’s OK, too.”

Gray said his colleagues are always looking for officials, and he has a message for young people considering the job.

“Come out and give it a try,” he said. “You get paid to do it. It puts money in your pocket as a kid. That’s why I started [officiating] hockey when I was 14. Now that’s not the issue for me right now, but for young kids, get out and try it. It keeps you in the game, because eventually you’re going to realize, you’re not going to play at the next level, so if you want to stay involved in the game, this is a good way to do it.”

With 37 years of officiating under his belt, Gray also said he doesn’t see the disrespect that some athletes, and parents show to referees, but he added sometimes the football players are a bit better. He said it’s nice to see officials being noticed.

“I just appreciate that people actually recognize us,” Gray said. “And know that we’re out there trying to do the best we can.”

mat.barret@jpbg.ca