Rogers eyes keeps eyes on the game

Norths A-grade striker Steve Rogers (right) enjoys scoring a goal with team-mate Dean Jeffrey.

ON the attack with a hockey stick in his hand, Steve “Dodger” Rogers is one of Ipswich’s most dangerous players.

His ability to score exhilarating goals is one of the reasons his Norths A-grade side has been so successful in recent years.

However, Rogers is also on target with a whistle in his hand. He recently earnt his international badge.

While the lethal striker hopes to continue playing club hockey, Rogers said his future representative path was as an umpire.

“That will open up everything now,” he said, already eyeing next year’s Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

“The only games I can’t do at the moment are the Olympics, World Cup and Champions Trophy.”

However, at 30, Rogers hopes to one day achieve those milestones. “They just changed the retirement age to 47, which gives me 17 years to get to top level,” he said.

Tivoli-based Rogers gained his international badge after officiating in four games at a tournament in Canberra. The matches in October involved Australia, Australia A, Malaysia and Canada.

“It was brilliant, pretty much exactly what I thought it would be,” Rogers said. “To get down there and get some games under the belt. The quality of the games was pretty high.

“I had to do three international games to be assessed.”

Rogers only found out last week by letter that he had achieved his Federation of International Hockey badge.

“It was a bit of a shock as I wasn’t actually expecting the call to go to Canberra,” he said.

After umpiring in his seventh season of national league, Rogers was invited to travel with Australia’s Junior World Cup squad in Darwin.

Two weeks later, he got the call to be in Canberra for the international games.

“I’ll give up playing rep hockey,” the former Australian Country representative said.

“It’s just too hard to umpire and play at the top level.”

Before the four internationals in Canberra, the Ipswich achiever had officiated in matches involving Australia A and The Netherlands, and Australia A and India.