Rebecca Welch made history when Fulham hosted Burnley last Saturday, becoming the first woman to referee a Premier League match.
Welch broke new ground in November when she became the first woman to be appointed to the role of fourth official for a Premier League match in Manchester United’s 1-0 win at Fulham.
The 40-year-old trailblazer from Washington, Tyne and Wear, has also officiated in the Championship this year, as well as taking charge of Women’s Super League and Women’s Champions League matches. She also refereed at the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this summer.
Early career
Welch became a referee in 2010, balancing the role alongside her job in the NHS, before turning her attention to officiating on a full-time basis.
“I played football and didn’t even think about refereeing until one of my really good friends, who is a referee, refereed us,” she said in an interview with the Independent.
“I spent the whole game telling her how to do her job! Her response was, ‘If you think it’s that easy, give it a go.’ That’s how it happened and 10 years later here I am.”
In 2021 she became the first woman to be appointed to referee an EFL match when she took charge of the League Two fixture between Harrogate Town and Port Vale.
Welch became a National Group Referee for the 2021/22 season and officiated Birmingham City’s FA Cup third round tie against Plymouth Argyle, again becoming the first woman to do so in the competition.
During her career, Welch has also officiated high-profile matches including refereeing for both the 2017 and 2020 Women’s FA Cup finals at Wembley Stadium.
Welch was part of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) Development Group last season, taking charge of two EFL Cup ties and two Championship matches.
This season she has been aligned to Select Group 2.
Welch was joined by Natalie Aspinall, who is Assistant VAR, as part of the match officials’ team on Saturday.
