Fulham vs Man Utd clash set to make Premier League history as trailblazing female referee appointed

REBECCA WELCH has made history by becoming the first woman appointed fourth official of a Premier League game.

The 39-year-old will take to the touchline at Craven Cottage on Saturday as Fulham take on Manchester United.

Rebecca Welch has become the first woman to be appointed fourth official of a Premier League gamePA

The trailblazing official made history by becoming the first woman to referee a professional game in England after officiating a League Two clash between Port Vale and Harrogate in 2021.

Welch followed that up by becoming the first female referee to oversee an FA Cup game this year, before officiating a Championship clash between Birmingham and Preston.

And she has impressed enough to earn a call-up to the Premier League.

Welch will act as fourth official to referee John Brooks and will be called upon if he is unable to officiate the match due to injury or any other reason.

She will become the fourth woman to be part of the team of officials for a Premier League match, following on from assistant referees Wendy Toms, Sian Massey-Ellis and Natalie Aspinall.

But Welch will not be the first woman to act as fourth official for a Prem game – Massey-Ellis holds that honour after taking on the responsibility for the second half of West Ham United v Everton in 2017.

Massey-Ellis was lineswoman but picked up an injury so took on fourth official duty for the Prem clash.

Massey-Ellis will act as assistant VAR for United’s trip to Fulham.

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Welch picked up a referee’s whistle 12 years ago at 27 after being dared to do so by a friend.

The former NHS admin officer, who has played football since childhood, started her life as a ref in university football clashes and Sunday League games.

Welch has officiated two Women’s FA Cup finals and has built up her experience refereeing in the WSL, Women’s Champions League and in international clashes.