Rebecca Welch Becomes First Female Referee For An English Football League Match

Rebecca Welch has now become the first-ever female referee for an English Football League (EFL) match. She will take charge of a match between Harrogate Town and Port Vale on Monday.

Rebecca Welch was selected after her performances were reviewed. She was appointed as a referee by referee chiefs Mike Riley and Mike Jones.

“I am still kind of trying to let it sink in at the minute,” she told Sky Sports News. “I got the news on Saturday and still haven’t come back down to earth. It’s very exciting, it is really good for me and the next steps of my career. I am very fortunate to be given this opportunity and really excited," she said.

"My dad is probably my biggest fan, so he's over the moon. My mum doesn't know a lot about football. She's excited, but I don't think she knows why! They're really proud. It's not something I thought that, when I decided to be a referee 11 years ago, I would be in the Football League doing a game. That didn't even register on my radar, " she added.

In 2010, it was Amy Fearn who was the first woman referee for an EFL game. She was the second-half replacement for Coventry's game against Nottingham Forest in the EFL. This was because referee Tony Bates had suffered an injury.

Rebecca Welch Has Refereed For The National League

Rebecca Welch was recently promoted to UEFA's elite category of officials and has been a referee for the National League's three seasons. Besides that, she has also taken charge of the Women's FA Cup final at Wembley.

"I've always said, through all my promotions, I want to be appointed because I am in the top 10 match officials on that list. I never want to be appointed based on anything else. I've got faith in the system, and I've been rewarded," she said.