Rebecca Welch will become the first woman to referee a Premier League game when
Fulham and Burnley meet, so here is everything you need to know about the official.
The Premier League has announced that Welch will record her debut as an English top-flight referee on December 23. She will hold the whistle as Fulham play host to Burnley in a festive showdown at Craven Cottage. It comes only 11 months after she got her Championship bow.
Welch has enjoyed a record-breaking career since becoming a referee during 2010. She was also the first woman to referee an FA Cup third-round tie in January 2022 when Birmingham City lost to Plymouth Argyle. Preston North End also beat the Blues on her second-tier bow.
Fulham and Burnley’s upcoming meeting marks a rapid rise to the Premier League for Welch as a referee, as well. It was only in April 2021 that she made her debut as an English Football League (EFL) referee. The official first held a whistle in 2010 alongside her job with the NHS.
Welch later turned her attention to officiating on a full-time basis and she will now make yet further history as the first female Premier League referee when Fulham play host to Burnley. So, here is everything you need to know about Welch before the referee’s top-flight debut…
Who is football referee Rebecca Welch?
Rebecca Welch is a history-making referee who will become the first woman to officiate in a Premier League game when Fulham host Burnley on December 23, 2023. She is already the first woman to referee a men’s FA Cup third-round tie and to referee a Championship game.
The EFL recognised Welch as the first woman added to its national group list of referees for men’s football in June 2021. It followed her debut as an EFL referee during April 2021 for a League Two match at Harrogate Town against Port Vale. The Vale won their away game 2-0.
Where and when was Rebecca Welch born?
Rebecca Welch is an English referee and was born on December 1, 1983. She was also born in the town of Washington, a part of the City of Sunderland district of Tyne and Wear. Welch made her EFL debut at 37, Championship debut at 39 and will be 40 for her top-flight debut.
What leagues has Rebecca Welch refereed?
The EFL brought Rebecca Welch into the professional men’s game after an 11-year career as a non-league referee. She had officiated National League games since August 2018 and also continued to work in the non-league division through to her most recent game in May 2021.
Welch has since refereed in the EFL Championship, League One and League Two. She even has officiated in EFL Trophy and FA Cup ties, as well as the Premier League 2. The PGMOL has now confirmed that Welch will record her Premier League debut on December 23, 2023.
Yet it will not be Welch’s first time involved in a Premier League game when she referees the festive fixture between Fulham and Burnley. She also made history in November as the first female to be the fourth official when Manchester United beat Fulham 1-0 at Craven Cottage.
It is a role that Welch has also held in the Carabao Cup, as well as the Championship, League One and League Two. She is yet to be the assistant during a men’s game. But Welch is also a referee in the women’s game and has worked over various domestic and international levels.
Welch has held the whistle in Women’s Super League and Champions League ties. She even refereed games at the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, and acted as the referee during matches at the 2022 UEFA Women’s Euros and 2018 Women’s U19 Euros.
Rebecca Welch stats as a referee
Rebecca Welch has shown an average of 3.39 yellow cards per men’s game she has had as a referee before the official’s Premier League debut when Fulham host Burnley. She has also shown a red card for two bookable offences just once and a straight red on three occasions.
Championship: 6 games, 26 yellow cards, 0 red cards, 0 penalties
League One: 16 games, 60 yellow cards, 1 red card, 6 penalties
League Two: 17 games, 51 yellow cards, 0 red cards, 1 penalty
EFL Trophy: 6 games, 18 yellow cards, 0 red cards, 0 penalties
FA Cup: 3 games, 6 yellow cards, 1 second yellow, 0 red cards, 1 penalty
National League: 23 games, 91 yellow cards, 2 red cards, 7 penalties
Premier League 2: 15 games, 40 yellow cards, 0 red cards, 3 penalties
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