Each week we take a close look at the referee assigned to the Swans game and look at their previous record when officiating Swansea City games.
This week’s referee spotlight focuses on Rebecca Welch, who was appointed the referee for the Middlesbrough v Swansea City EFL Championship game on Saturday, 6 April 2024.
Referee Rebecca Welch was assisted by Craig Taylor and Mark Russell, with Anthony Backhouse the 4th Official for the game.
Name: Rebecca Welch
Birthplace: Washington, Tyne and Wear
Rebecca Welch’s remarkable journey in football officiating reached new heights in 2023, marking significant milestones for women in the sport.
In January, Welch made history as the first female referee to oversee a Championship match, taking charge of the game between Birmingham City and Preston North End. This achievement was just the beginning of her groundbreaking year.
Her talents were recognized on the global stage when she was selected to referee at the Women’s World Cup. Welch officiated in three matches, including the round-of-16 clash between Australia and Denmark. Although her hopes of further matches were halted by England’s progression to the final, her presence and skill were notable.
A defining moment came when Welch became the first woman to officiate a Premier League match, taking the field for the game between Fulham and Burnley at Craven Cottage on 23 December 2023.
This was not her first groundbreaking moment, as Welch also holds the distinction of being the first woman appointed to referee an English Football League match. In April 2021, she led the officiating team for the League Two encounter between Harrogate and Port Vale.
Welch’s journey began when she was offered a promotion to the EFL as an assistant referee in 2017. However, she opted to pursue a path as a referee, working her way up in the men’s game. By the 2018-19 season, she was officiating in the National League, England’s fifth-tier football league, while also maintaining her role in women’s football.
Her dedication and skill were further recognized when she officiated the Women’s FA Cup final in both 2017 and 2020. In 2020, she achieved another milestone by being promoted to UEFA’s elite category of female referees, a testament to her commitment and talent. This remarkable progression in her refereeing career coincided with her decision to leave her job as an administrator in the National Health Service, fully committing herself to the world of football officiating.
Welch was the very first female referee to officiate a Swansea City first team game, when she oversaw the Swans 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers in March 2024.
Swans related Fact(s):
This was the second time that referee Rebecca Welch has officiated a Swansea City game and it was the first time she has officiated a Swans away game.
Here are the all important facts and figures for each game that he has been a referee for a Swansea City game:
Date
|
Competition
|
Home Team
|
Score
|
Away Team
|
6 April 2024 | Championship | Middlesbrough | 2:0 | Swansea City |
2 March 2024 | Championship | Swansea City | 2:1 | Blackburn Rovers |
In summary, his record for Swansea City games is as follows:
Home Games
P1 W1 D0 L0
Away Games
P1 W0 D0 L1
Overall Record
P2 W1 D0 L1
This referee has a Swans Love Factor of 50%
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You can also browse more information and stats about other referees who have officiated Swansea City games.
Feature Image Credit: Colchester United FC