Victorian country football umpire Greg Sidebottom dies after heart attack during match

A country football umpire has died during a game in regional Victoria.

Greg Sidebottom, in his 50s, was umpiring a game between the seniors of the Ardmona and Undera football clubs at the Ardmona Recreational reserve when he collapsed during the last quarter.

Paramedics and others performed CPR on him but he died at the scene.

Mr Sidebottom has been umpiring since the early 1980s, in the VFL and later in the country leagues throughout the state.

Tributes have flooded in for Mr Sidebottom who also spent four years as the Director of Umpiring for the Eastern Football League between 1988-1991.

 “He just loved football and particularly umpiring. A good man gone with a large legacy impacting across umpiring in Victoria,” Geelong Umpires League wrote on Facebook.

“Deepest sympathies to his family, friends & the GVFUA during this very tough time,” Murray Football Netball league said.

It was also tweeted by UmpireAFL that “Umpires will wear black armband today in honour of former VFL umpire Greg Sidebottom who tragically passed away in a match yesterday.”