Rebecca Welch

Rebecca Welch is an English football referee from Washington, Tyne and Wear who, in 2021, became the first woman 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.[1]

Rebecca Welch
(2019)
Full name Rebecca Welch
Born (1983-12-01) 1 December 1983
Washington, Tyne and Wear, England
Domestic
Years League Role
The Football Association Referee
International
Years League Role
2015– FIFA listed Referee

Career

Having worked as an administrator with the National Health Service, Welch became a football referee in 2010, but continued to work in her NHS post until 2019.[2] She had played football from a young age, and studied to be a referee with Durham County Football Association. Her first two matches were women's university games, followed by a Sunday League match in Sunderland, something she has described as being "a completely different kettle of fish" compared to the university games.[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. She also officiated at the 2020 FA Women's Community Shield. Since the 2018–19 National League season she has refereed at several men's National League matches.[2][4][5][6] In December 2020 she was added to UEFA's elite women's list, joining other female football officials to referee at international games, including Stéphanie Frappart of France and Germany's Bibiana Steinhaus.[7][8]

Welch's appointment to referee the Harrogate v Port Vale match was announced by the Football Association on 30 March 2021.[7] The game proceeded smoothly with Welch officiating effectively. Port Vale won the match (2–0). 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.[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. Amy Fearn was substituted to referee the final 20 minutes of a match between Coventry City and Nottingham Forest in February 2010 when the original referee was taken off due to injury.[2][9]

On 29 December 2021, it was announced that Welch would be the first woman to officiate a third round men's FA Cup match. The game in question, between Birmingham City and Plymouth Argyle, was played on 8 January 2022.[10][11]

On 9 January 2023, FIFA appointed her to the officiating pool for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.[12]

References
  1. Bower, Aaron (5 April 2021). "Long overdue barriers broken down as Rebecca Welch makes EFL debut". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  2. "The key questions answered as referee Rebecca Welch makes history". County Times. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  3. "Referee Rebecca Welch is 'On the Spot' ahead of Women's Community Shield". www.thefa.com. The Football Association. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  4. "'Really excited': Rebecca Welch the first female referee appointed to EFL match". The Guardian. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  5. Flood, George (30 March 2021). "Welch appointed as first female referee to take charge of EFL fixture". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  6. "Georgia Stanway's Manchester City defeated by Chelsea in Women's Community Shield". The Mail. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  7. "EFL appoints Welch as first female ref". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  8. "English officials Rebecca Welch and Emily Carney end 2020 with UEFA promotions". www.thefa.com. The Football Association. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  9. "Rebecca Welch becomes first female referee appointed to EFL match". www.efl.com. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  10. "Rebecca Welch to be first female referee in an FA Cup third round game". BBC Sport. 29 December 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  11. "Rebecca Welch is first woman referee to take charge of a men's FA Cup third-round tie". Sky Sports. 9 January 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  12. "Match officials appointed for FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™" (Press release). FIFA. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
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