December 14, (THEWILL) – Rebecca Welch is set to make history this December when she becomes the first female referee to take charge of an English Premier League match. On December 23, she will officiate the match between Fulham and Burnley.
Welch’s refereeing career began in 2010 when she balanced the role with her job at the NHS. She quickly moved up the ranks, refereeing in the Sky Bet League Two in 2021 and becoming the first woman to officiate a match in the Football League.
The Washington, Tyne and Wear native has continued achieving milestones, including being the first female to referee Championship and FA Cup third round matches. Last month, she became the first woman fourth official for an EPL match.
On top of her EPL role, Welch boasts an impressive resume refereeing international and professional women’s matches. This includes twice refereeing the Women’s FA Cup final and officiating matches in the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Welch’s appointment highlights increasing diversity and inclusivity in the EPL. As the first female referee, she paves the way for more women to officiate in the top levels of English football.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
