Welch hopes to pass on legacy to female referees

Trailblazing referee Rebecca Welch said she hopes "somebody else picks up the legacy" as she was inducted into the National Football Museum's Hall of Fame.

The 40-year-old made history in 2021 when she became the first woman to referee an EFL match, taking charge of Harrogate Town v Port Vale in League Two.

She later officiated in the Championship and the third round of the men's FA Cup before refereeing Fulham v Burnley in the Premier League at Craven Cottage in 2023.

Welch has now stepped away from on-field duties to take on a managerial role within PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) to support and develop officials for the women's game.

Speaking at her induction in the Hall of Fame, Welch told BBC Sport: "It's a legacy that will go on for a few years and I'm happy for it to.

"But in a few years' time, I hope somebody else picks up that legacy and drives it further on from what I have.

"That is what my new role is in the future. It would be nice if people are not talking about Rebecca Welch any more, but about another female official who has done the same as me and hopefully a little bit more."

There are now 14 female referees on football's international list and a 113% increase in the number of woman officials since 2020, according to figures released by the Football Association last month.

The Women's Select Group - the top female referees in the game - has more than doubled in numbers since the start of 2022, say PGMOL.

Among them is WSL referee Emily Carney, who worked with Welch at the Olympic Games this summer, as well as Abigail Byrne.

"I think it's a great opportunity for any female wanting to get into the game," added Welch.

"Once you get involved in it, you get hooked. There's no better time to be a female referee with the growth of the women's game. It's really exciting."

Welch has officiated in some of the biggest events in football, including the Women's FA Cup and Champions League finals, as well as the 2022 Women's European Championship, when the Lionesses were crowned champions on home soil.

But Welch says her proudest moment was refereeing at Wembley Stadium for the first time and seeing that become a regular feature of the women's game.

"The Women's FA Cup final had only just started being played there - which is where it should be being played," said Welch.

"That was special. It will always go down [as a proud moment] for me. But there are so many. I feel like I've grown in my career alongside the WSL.

"I was there from the start so my journey has been a part of that growth. We need to keep up with the growth of the WSL and as referees, be present."

Referees in the WSL are not yet full-time and Welch says that is a discussion that "will be had" with the Women's Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL).

"That is something I think will happen in the future. The league is full-time now and has been for a number of years," she added.

"Although the referees are professional in everything they do, that full-time element is still missing. We will have some conversations and go from there."

Welch's decision to step away from refereeing came as a surprise but she admits it was "in the back of her mind" for a few months.

"I had been to Wembley, to the Euros, a World Cup and refereed in the Premier League and I always wanted to go out at the top of my game," said Welch.

"I thought it would be nice to finish at a major tournament and the Olympic Games was a good one.

"The role at the PGMOL came at the right time which meant I could still be involved in the growth of the WSL and Women's Championship going forward."