REBECCA WELCH has made historical past by turning into the primary girl appointed fourth official of a Premier League sport.
The 39-year-old will take to the touchline at Craven Cottage on Saturday as Fulham tackle Manchester United.
Rebecca Welch has change into the primary girl to be appointed fourth official of a Premier League sportCredit score: PA
The trailblazing official made historical past by turning into the primary girl to referee an expert sport in England after officiating a League Two conflict between Port Vale and Harrogate in 2021.
Welch adopted that up by turning into the primary feminine referee to supervise an FA Cup sport this 12 months, earlier than officiating a Championship conflict between Birmingham and Preston.
And he or she has impressed sufficient to earn a call-up to the Premier League.
Welch will act as fourth official to referee John Brooks and might be referred to as upon if he’s unable to officiate the match because of harm or another purpose.
She’s going to change into the fourth girl to be a part of the staff of officers for a Premier League match, following on from assistant referees Wendy Toms, Sian Massey-Ellis and Natalie Aspinall.
However Welch won’t be the primary girl to behave as fourth official for a Prem sport – Massey-Ellis holds that honour after taking over the duty for the second half of West Ham United v Everton in 2017.
Massey-Ellis was lineswoman however picked up an harm so took on fourth official obligation for the Prem conflict.
Massey-Ellis will act as assistant VAR for United’s journey to Fulham.
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Welch picked up a referee’s whistle 12 years in the past at 27 after being dared to take action by a buddy.
The previous NHS admin officer, who has performed soccer since childhood, began her life as a ref in college soccer clashes and Sunday League video games.
Welch has officiated two Ladies’s FA Cup finals and has constructed up her expertise refereeing within the WSL, Ladies’s Champions League and in worldwide clashes.