NORTH EAST referee Rebecca Welch will make history later this month when she becomes the first woman to take charge of a Premier League match.

The 40-year-old from Washington has been selected to take charge of Fulham vs Burnley at Craven Cottage on Saturday, December 23.

Welch has long been a trailblazer in the English game, having become the first woman to referee an EFL match in April 2021, the first to take charge of a men's FA Cup fixture in January 2022 and the first female fourth official in the Premier League. That was for Manchester United's 1-0 win at Fulham last month.

She has also officiated Women's Super League and Champions League matches, as well as refereeing at the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in the summer.

"Rebecca has been exposed to some big games and I am really confident she will deliver a game in the Premier League and be a really good model for women and girls to think refereeing is for them," referees' chief Howard Webb told BBC Sport.

It has also been announced that Sam Allison will also take charge of a top-flight match in December, making him the Premier League's first black referee for 15 years.

Webb added: "These are pivotal moments for Rebecca and Sam, who are two officials of real quality. They deserve their opportunity."