WELCH THE FIRST LADY

REBECCA WELCH will become the first woman to referee an English Football League game when she takes charge of the League Two clash between Harrogate and Port Vale on Easter Monday. The 37-year-old, below, from Washington in Tyne and Wear, refereed the 2017 Women’s FA Cup final and has officiated in eight National League games this season. She said: “I’m still trying to let it sink in. I got the news on Saturday and haven’t come back down to earth.

“It’s very exciting news – it’s good for me and the next steps of my career. I’m fortunate to have been given this opportunity.” Amy Fearn was the first woman to referee an EFL game when she

came on as an injury replacement in the 2010 game between Coventry and Nottingham Forest. ButWelch is the first to be given a start.

She added: “My dad is my biggest fan and pre-Covid came to every game, so he was over the moon. My mum doesn’t know a lot about football so she’s excited but I don’t think she knows why! They are really proud, so that’s nice.

“I’m really proud too because I started with not really having any aspirations to be doing things like this interview.

“In the past 10 years I’ve put a lot of hard work in and I’ve reaped the rewards by getting promoted. I’d never seen myself as a trailblazer until the last year, when I’ve started to accept it because I think it’s important people who are fortunate enough to be in my position can show this can be done.

“It’s important to show that women who are in the top one percent of their category can proceed to the next level.

“It shows that there is an opportunity for young girls who are wondering if they can aspire to be an EFL referee or be like Sian Massey-Ellis [assistant ref, above] in the Premier League.”

French ref Stephanie Frappart took charge of the Super Cup final in 2019 and the Champions League tie between Juventus and Dinamo Kiev last year.