Rebecca Welch will be in charge when Swansea City travel to Middlesbrough on Saturday (3pm kick-off). Welch was promoted to Select Group 2 in the summer of 2023 and this will be the second time she has taken charge of a Swans match, having previously overseen the home win over Blackburn Rovers last month.
Josh Tymon was the only Swan booked that day, while goals from Joe Allen and Jamie Paterson secured three points in a 2-1 victory. Welch started officiating in the north-east in 2010, and quickly moved to refereeing in the Women’s Super League before being awarded the 2017 and 2020 Women’s FA Cup Finals.
In December 2020, Welch was added to Uefa’s list, which put her among the elite female referees in Europe. Since the 2018-19 season, the Tyne & Wear-based official has also been appointed to games in the men’s National League. She was promoted to the National Group (previously National List) in the summer of 2021 following an impressive EFL debut in the League Two clash between Port Vale and Harrogate the previous season.
In December 2023, she took charge of her first Premier League match – a clash between Fulham and Burnley - becoming the first woman to referee at that level. She also oversaw Bournemouth’s top-flight meeting with Nottingham Forest in February. In total this season, Welch has taken charge of 15 men's games across all four professional leagues, as well as in the FA Cup. She has handed out 74 yellow cards and three reds.
On Saturday, she will be assisted by Craig Taylor and Mark Russell. Anthony Backhouse will be the fourth official.
