Rebecca Welch is poised to etch her name in history as the Premier League's first female referee, officiating in the upcoming match between Fulham and Burnley scheduled for December 23.
Recalling the challenges that marked her groundbreaking debut in the second division league EFL back in April 2021, Welch emphasizes her aspiration to be treated no differently than any other referee in the league.
Reflecting on her initial experience with Harrogate and Port Vale players in the EFL, Welch shared, “The players didn’t treat me any differently – they were still chewing my ear off as they went past.
“That was nice because I was a bit afraid of them not being like that. You want players to go, ‘You got that one wrong, ref,’ or ‘It’s gone so well in the last 10 minutes.’
“You need that, and when I got it, I felt normal and that I could just referee the game,” she added.
Acknowledging the heightened attention she is likely to receive in the Premier League, Welch expresses her earnest desire to be perceived just like any other referee, despite the inevitable media focus on her groundbreaking role.
