Woman to officiate match in 1st for men’s pro soccer in England

London, Mar 30 (efe-epa).- Next week, referee Rebecca Welch will become the first woman to officiate a men’s professional soccer match in England.

The 37-year-old will be in charge on Easter Monday for a third-division tie pitting Harrogate Town against Port Vale.

In 2010, Amy Fearn officiated the last stretch of a game between second-division sides Coventry and Nottingham Forest as the designated referee was injured.

“This is the biggest achievement of my career. I’ve refereed at Wembley in the 2017 women’s FA Cup Final, which will always be a top highlight,” Welch told the English Football League (EFL) website.

“I do think it’s important to show that women who are in the top 1 percent of their category can proceed to the next level so it definitely makes others down the period look up and know that they can achieve the same,” she said. EFE-EPA gx/ta/dr