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 is set to 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 officiate a Premier League game, 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 quite overwhelming, I was very honoured to be asked,’ Welch said.

‘My journey started 13 years ago and now here I am having refereed in one of the biggest leagues in the world, being inducted to the National Football Museum Hall of Fame alongside legends of the game, it doesn’t feel real to me.

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

‘It’s great for young boys and young girls to see female representation at the top of the game because it makes them believe that they can be there as well.’

Welch began her refereeing career in 2010, balancing her role alongside working for the NHS before becoming professional in 2019.

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

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

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

‘Reaching the pinnacle of refereeing in the women’s game officiating at multiple World Cups as well as becoming the first female to officiate the Premier League. Rebecca’s achievements take bravery and extreme dedication to her craft.

‘She’s a shining example for women looking to make a career in refereeing, the wider footballing world and beyond and we are delighted to announce she will be inducted into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame.’

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

Welch is only the second referee to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, with Jack Taylor having been included in 2013.

She is part of PGMOL’s Development Group which identifies talented officials and enables them to dedicate more time to their officiating. The support of the Development Group has seen Welch take on her first Premier League match 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 game.

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