Rebecca Welch, the trailblazing referee, has announced her retirement from officiating to take on a new role with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL). Welch made history by becoming the first woman to referee a Premier League match in 2023 and also achieved the milestone of being the first woman to officiate a game in the English Football League in 2021.
Welch expressed her gratitude for the support and opportunities she received during her remarkable career on the field. She mentioned her love for working with exceptional colleagues and officials from around the globe, highlighting the many incredible memories that refereeing has brought her. Welch also expressed her hope to see more young individuals seize the expanding opportunities available to everyone in the field of refereeing.
Transitioning into a management role with the PGMOL, Welch will now lead the Select Group Women's Professional Game. Howard Webb, the chief refereeing officer of PGMOL, praised Welch as a pioneering figure in the world of refereeing. He commended her for consistently breaking barriers and achieving remarkable feats in England, as well as representing PGMOL and The FA at prestigious international tournaments, including the recent Olympics.
Webb expressed the organization's excitement in welcoming Welch to their team of support staff, emphasizing their confidence in her significant contributions continuing to make a substantial impact. Welch's induction into the National Football Museum's Hall of Fame earlier this year further solidifies her legacy as a groundbreaking figure in the world of football officiating.
