Football Queensland (FQ) are pleased to announce Sunshine Coast Football’s Luca Ferroussat as the Referee of the Month for June.

The 15-year-old was nominated by the zone’s Junior Referee Development Officer Tahlia Loffel.

“He is always ready to learn and willing to do whatever it takes to achieve the best outcomes for his refereeing,” Loffel said.

“His commitment to training and attitude towards the game is something we haven’t seen in many years.

“Luca would be an asset to any zone and we are lucky to have him on the Sunshine Coast.”

Ferroussat was surprised, but humbled, to find out he had won the award.

“I was pretty surprised to be honest, but very proud,” he said.

“There are a lot of great people in refereeing and I’ve made some great friendships.

“I’m having lots of fun refereeing and enjoy working with new people all the time.

“The money I’m earning is going straight to saving for my first car.”

Last month, Ferroussat was selected as one of the Grand Final referees for the Queensland School Sport Under 15 State Championships held at Redlands United.

“I met some amazing people at the tournament,” he said.

“The coaching was fantastic and I was appointed to the final and was voted referee of the tournament.”

Ferroussat began playing football as a seven-year-old on the Sunshine Coast but is only in his second year as a match official.

He credits his ongoing progression to the coaching he’s received at local and state level.

“I want to thank Tahlia [Loffel] and Phil [Townsend] at Sunshine Coast Football for the faith they’ve put in me and the coaching they’ve provided,” he said.

“I’d also like to thank David [Wiebe] and Mark [Simon-Green] at Football Queensland and all the other referees I work with as well.”

The teenager said taking on feedback was a key part of improving as a match official.

“I’d say the most important things are to be confident and have fun, as well as learning from feedback and coaching,” Ferroussat said.

“I want to stay grounded and want to focus on where I am now, but keep an eye on the future.”