Rebecca Welch to be inducted into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame… after the history-making official became the Premier League’s first female referee

Rebecca Welch will become the first female referee to be inducted into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame, Mail Sport can reveal.

Welch made history earlier this season when she became the first woman to referee a Premier League match, taking charge of Fulham v Burnley in December last year.

Her induction will be announced today to coincide with International Women’s Day, with the formal induction taking place later this year.

“It’s pretty overwhelming, it was a huge honor for me to be asked,” Welch said.

“My journey began 13 years ago and now here I am, having been a referee in one of the biggest leagues in the world, being inducted into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame alongside legends of the game, it doesn’t feel real.

Welch became the first woman to referee a Premier League match in December.

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“It’s great for boys and girls to see female representation at the top of the game because it makes them believe they can be there too.”

Welch began his career as a referee in 2010, balancing his role with work for the NHS before turning professional in 2019.

The 40-year-old refereed the 2017 and 2020 Women’s FA Cup finals at Wembley and was part of the refereeing team in the Australia and New Zealand Women’s World Cup third-place play-off match last summer. .

Welch became the first woman appointed to referee an EFL match when she took charge of the League 2 match between Harrogate and Port Vale in 2021, before being promoted to the Premier League last year.

Tim Desmond, chief executive of the National Football Museum, said: “Rebecca’s achievements in football are nothing short of outstanding.

‘Reaching the pinnacle of refereeing in women’s football by refereeing multiple World Cups, as well as becoming the first woman to referee the Premier League. Rebecca’s achievements require courage and extreme dedication to her craft.

“She is a shining example for women seeking a career in refereeing, the wider world of football and beyond, and we are delighted to announce that she will be inducted into the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame.”

Welch, who officiated at last year’s Women’s World Cup, will be the second referee brought in

Welch is only the second referee inducted into the Hall of Fame, after Jack Taylor was inducted in 2013.

She is part of the PGMOL Development Group which identifies talented officials and allows them to dedicate more time to their refereeing. The support of the Development Group has allowed Welch to play her first Premier League game, as well as Kirsty Dowle and Emily Carney making their EFL debuts.

In 2019, the National Football Museum relaunched the Hall of Fame with a commitment to achieving 50 percent female representation across the sport.

Welch will join the likes of Kerry Davis, Jill Scott and Kelly Smith as one of the many women inductees.