Referee Rebecca Welch officiates a women’s match last year. (Photo: Reuters)
A little piece of history will take place in the English Football League on Monday in the unlikely setting of Wetherby Road stadium in Harrogate when a female referee will be in charge of a match in the EFL for the first time.
It is hoped this small but significant step may open up the way for more female officials in England.
Rebecca Welch, 37, from Durham will be blowing the whistle in the League Two game between Harrogate and Port Vale. It can hardly be called a glamour fixture but it’s a crucial start.
The only other time a female has taken charge of an EFL game was back in 2010 when Amy Fearn was running the line in the Championship game between Coventry City and Nottingham Forrest and took over after the referee…
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