Female referee appointed for Harrogate v Port Vale match

Female referee appointed: Port Vale’s Easter Monday game against Harrogate Town is set to mark a new chapter in the game as Rebecca Welch is been named as the matchday referee.

Welch is the highest-ranking female referee in English football and her selection for the game comes after review of her performances this season by referee heads Mike Riley and Mike Jones. The appointment of Welch to the League Two match comes just two days after Stephanie Frappart became the first woman to take charge of a men’s World Cup qualifier.

She become the first female referee appointed to take charge of an English Football League game. The 37-year-old, from Washington in County Durham, has officiated eight National League games this season and refereed the Women’s FA Cup final in 2017 and 2020.

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 told Sky Sports News: “I am still kind of trying to let it sink in at the minute. 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.”

“I do think it’s important to show that women who are in the top one per cent of their category can proceed to the next level so it definitely makes others down the pyramid look up and know that they can achieve the same.

“It shows that there is a real opportunity to young girls who are wondering if they are to take the whistle or are already referees they can aspire to be an EFL referee or like Sian Massey-Ellis operating in the Premier League.”

OVF welcomes this ground-breaking decision and hopes it is merely the first of many occasions. It’s an honour that Port Vale fans will be first to witness an historic moment and we wish Rebecca Welch and the other matchday officials all the best on Monday.