Rebecca Welch has become the first female referee to be appointed to a game in the English Football League, it has been announced. Welch told the FA’s web site: “I played football and didn’t even think about refereeing until one of my really good friends, who is a referee, refereed us. [1] The announcement made Welch the first woman to be appointed to referee an English Football League game, though not the first woman to referee during a game. Rebecca started her career in her early 20s and initially wanted to be a footballer. The 37-year-old became the first female referee to take charge of a full league … Rebecca Welch, who made history on Monday as the first female referee appointed for an EFL fixture, has signed up to help in June with a training course run by the Durham County FA, a … Welch eventually worked her way into the higher echelons of match officiating, becoming part of an elite group on Fifa’s international list. Rebecca Welch has become the first female referee to be appointed to take charge of an English Football League game. That’s how it happened and years later here I am. The PA news agency understands she is set to officiate the League Two game between Harrogate and Port Vale on Easter Monday. Two players received yellow cards, but there was little dissent apart from a vocal complaint by Harrogate's Connor Hall about a possible penalty in the first half. "We need to keep on educating people, about how it makes that person feel. REBECCA WELCH HOPES she can be an inspiration to other women after becoming the first female referee appointed to take charge of an English Football League game. “I like the games when nobody remembers who the ref is.”. As she prepares to referee the Women's FA Community Shield at Wembley, north-east official Rebecca Welch is the latest to face our 'On the Spot' questions... Friday 28 Aug 2020. Rebecca Welch became the first female referee appointed to take charge of an English Football League game this week. Rebecca Welch recently made her debut in the English Football League as referee. The highest ranked female official in … For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Rebecca Welch will make history as the first woman to referee an EFL game when Harrogate Town play Port Vale, Welch, 37, began her life as a referee in university matches and Sunday League clashes, Welch's match officiating performances have led to her being added to Fifa's international list of referees, Welch took charge of Fiorentina's Women's Champions League clash against Slavia Prague, Welch regards Sian Massey as a trailblazer for women referees, Credit: Eddie Keogh Telegraph Media Group, Welch believes a woman taking charge of match officiating in the Premier League could happen in ten to 15 years, Referee Stephanie Frappart 'not afraid' to officiate her first men's game at Super Cup. "I'm aware that not everybody is as fortunate as me and I'm aware it does happen. Rebecca Welch is an English referee who is best known as the first woman referee in the English Premier League. I've been very lucky that I turn up and they don't see me as a female referee, they just say, 'Rebecca's here and she's the ref today' so that's quite nice. Rebecca Welch, 37, will be in charge for Monday's League Two match between Harrogate and Port Vale. Rebecca Welch first woman to referee in English men's league I was just given the appointment and I was over the moon but when you kind of reflect on it, you think, youre the first woman ever to do this, so Im extremely proud and my familys extremely proud as well. I've got to keep on performing, achieving those marks, to get those rewards. “I've been very lucky that I turn up and they don't see me as a female referee, they just say, 'Rebecca's here and she's the ref today' so that's quite nice.”. She earned her qualifications as an official through Durham County FA. But, destiny had different plans for her. Rebecca Welch is an English football referee from Washington, Tyne and Wear who, in 2021, became the first female to be appointed to referee an English Football League match, when she was appointed to referee a League Two match between Harrogate Town and Port Vale, that took place at Harrogate's EnviroView Stadium on 5 April. The football official, who describes Sian Massey’s efforts as a Prem assistant referee as “amazing”, hopes to one day see a woman take charge of a Premier League fixture. “I spent the whole game telling her how to do her job! REBECCA WELCH picked up a referee’s whistle 11 years ago at 27 after being dared to do so by a friend. [2] She had played football from a young age, and studied to be a referee with Durham County Football Association. “I had to analyse my performances and work out what I could do to improve and that’s something I really enjoy. "I’ve been doing this for more than ten years now and I guarantee that the good days will far outweigh the bad ones in the long run.”, FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE. “I've received criticism for my refereeing, and that's part of football. The 37-year-old Welch took charge of Port Vale’s 2-0 win over Harrogate in the fourth tier. She also refereed the women's FA Cup final at Wembley … Commenting is currently disabled on this article. “Then the third game I did was Sunderland Sunday league football and it was a completely different kettle of fish. Welch is an elite referee who has frequently officiated lower league men's matches in the past. North Riding referee Welch, based in Washington, took charge of both the Vitality Women’s FA Cup Final and FA Women’s Community Shield at Wembley this year and is the only official to be promoted to the elite group in this mid-season reclassification. Rebecca Welch has become the first female referee to be appointed to an English Football League match as she prepares to take charge of the League Two clash between Harrogate Town and Port Vale next week, the EFL said on Tuesday. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Welch will officiate Harrogate Town's match against Port … And Welch remains open-minded on the challenge falling to her or another breaking through the glass ceiling. Welch, 37, jokingly told Sky Sports: "A good game on Monday is, by 10 to five (o'clock), they're talking about the game and not about the ref. She told Sky … Rebecca Welch made history on Monday as she became the first woman to referee an EFL match in Port Vale's 2-0 win at Harrogate, with both sides' … “Sometimes I used to go home and chuck my bag down and I’d tell myself I’m never doing it again but you soon realise that not every day is going to be a good day in the office - it’s just like anything else. [3], During her career as a referee she has officiated at games in the Women's Super League, and was referee at the 2017 and 2020 Women's FA Cup Finals. Declan Rice 'DID ask about Man Utd', Cristiano Ronaldo return & Haaland latest, Messi PSG deal latest, Ten Hag favourite for Spurs, Stones EXCLUSIVE, De Bruyne and Mahrez inspire fightback to sink ten-man PSG, Nuno offered to Spurs as super-agent pushes Wolves boss as Mourinho replacement, ©News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. REBECCA WELCH picked up a referee’s whistle 11 years ago at 27 after being dared to do so by a friend. When Rebecca Welch sounded the opening whistle during today’s Harrogate Town and Port Vale tilt, she became the first woman to referee an English Football League game. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Welch added: “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. Rebecca Welch, from County Durham, will become the first female referee appointed to take charge of an EFL game. I’ve got faith in the system, and I’ve been rewarded.”. Rebecca Welch is an English football referee from Washington, Tyne and Wear who, in 2021, became the first female to be appointed to referee an English Football League match, when she was appointed to referee a League Two match between Harrogate Town and Port Vale, that took place at Harrogate's EnviroVent Stadium on 5 April. "Her response was, ‘If you think it’s that easy, give it a go. Rebecca Welch will make history next week having become the first woman to be appointed to referee a game in the English Football League. The past take charge of an EFL game was, ‘ If you think it ’ s win. Matches in the fourth tier what I could do to improve and that part! 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