THE umpires who keep the beating heart of country football alive are a tightknit group supporting each other and eager to welcome new people into their fold.

Central Rivers umpires manager Brent Howden is entering his 21st season as a central umpire and is as passionate about it as ever.

“My father was an umpire and that got me into it, and after spending a few years as a boundary umpire, I mo...