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

The 40-year-old, from Washington, has long been a trailblazer in the game. Here's her story:

WHAT'S TODAY'S NEWS?

It has been announced that Welch will take charge of Fulham's Premier League game against Burnley at Craven Cottage on Saturday, December 23. In doing so, she will become the first woman to referee a men's Premier League match in England.

WHAT'S WELCH'S STORY?

Welch played football herself from a young age before studying to be a referee with Durham County FA.

It was only 13 years ago in 2010 that she became a referee and for the next nine years she juggled her officiating with her work as an administrator for the NHS.

WHAT HAS WELCH ACHIEVED IN THE GAME?

Plenty! Where do you start?

Welch has establisher herself as one of the world's leading female officials in recent years, twice refereeing the Women's FA Cup final in 2017 and 2020, as well as being a regular in the Women's Super League and officiating in the Women's Champions League and at the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in the summer.

In 2021, she became the first woman to referee a men's EFL match when she took charge of Harrogate Town's game against Port Vale. She then became the first woman to referee a men's FA Cup third round match when she was in the middle for Birmingham's tie against Plymouth Argyle last year.

And only last month she became the first woman fourth official in a Premier League match for Manchester United's game at Fulham.

WHAT HAS SHE SAID IN THE PAST?

After being selected to become the first woman to referee an EFL match two years ago, Welch said: “I’m really excited and this is what I’ve been working towards.

"In the last 10 years I’ve put a lot of hard work and commitment in and I’ve reaped the rewards from that by getting promoted. To be given this opportunity to work in the EFL is amazing for me.

“I’d never seen myself as a trailblazer until the last year, where I’ve started to accept it because I think it’s important that people who are fortunate enough to be in my position or similar can show people that this can be done.

"I do think it’s important to show that women who are in the top 1% of their category can proceed to the next level so it definitely makes others down the pyramid look up and know that they can achieve the same.”

WHAT'S BEEN SAID ABOUT WELCH?

After today's announcement that Welch will take charge of the Fulham vs Burnley match, referees' chief Howard Webb said: "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."