Hackett thinks Welch can reach highest level
Rebecca Welch can follow in the footsteps of other officials from football’s north-east hotbed and make it right to the top, says former referees chief Keith Hackett.
Welch, from Washington, madehistoryonMondaywhen becomingthefirstfemaletobe appointed to referee a game in the English Football League.
The 37-year-old has received universal praise for her debut EFL performance in Harrogate’s 2-0 home defeat to Sky Bet League Two rivals Port Vale.
“She’s from the northeast, an area that has always produced top-class referees,” Hackett said.
“It’s a football hot-bed, but it’s also tough and I think that actually helps to develop top referees – Mark Clattenburg, Pat Partridge, Peter Willis, George Courtney, they all come to mind. The north-east has always produced top-class refereesandatthemomentour country’sleadingreferee,inmy opinion, is Michael Oliver.
“You see from them a calmnessbecausethey’vedealtwith conflict in that hot-bed area.”
Hackett,formerheadofthe ProfessionalGameMatchOfficialsLtd,whospent22yearsas anEFLandPremierLeagueofficial,believesWelchcanreach the highest level.
“She must maintain her consistency of performance and continue to break down barriersbecauseshehasclearly been doing that,” Hackett said.
“She has also shown great resilience at all the levels to break the glass ceiling and I see no reason why she can’t advance to the top echelon of the game. Now I think when she gets into a professional environment it should get easier. The window of opportunity is there and I do think that at the top level we desperately need some good referees.”