“Rebecca Welch looked confident and relaxed in the tunnel at Craven Cottage, high-fiving the Fulham mascots as the teams lined up.
“The 40-year-old shared a joke with Lyle Foster before blowing her whistle to start the match and create history.
“Welch waited patiently until the 22nd minute to award her first free-kick before then booking Calvin Bassey three minutes later albeit harshly when the Fulham defender’s left arm accidentally caught the face of Josh Brownhill as the pair turned to chase after a loose ball.
“But Welch took the game in her stride without getting needlessly involved, stepping in twice in the space of three second-half minutes to book Joao Palhinha and then Jordan Beyer for cynical fouls.
“Burnley boss Vincent Kompany congratulated her at full-time and said: ‘Aside from the performance it’s a big moment. When you’re in the game it’s not about the referee or the coach, it’s about the players but after the game it’s fair to say it’s a milestone moment and may there be more.
“‘The best thing will always be when people are judged on merit and that’s it. But you have to have a first and this is it so well done. I’m happy to be part of this moment, it’s big’.”Webb expressed his excitement at Welch and Allison’s promotions, telling Sky Sports in an exclusive interview: “I’m excited to see the appointment of Rebecca Welch to her first Premier League referees appointment and, on Boxing Day, we’ll see Sam Allison taking charge of his first game.
“They’re both part of the PGMOL’s development group. It’s an initiative tied into the elite referee development plan, which has been in place for a couple of years now to fast-track talented officials to the pathway.
“We’ve already seen three officials from that group take charge of their first Premier League games.
“Now we have number four and five. It shows the value of the work happening in that space is really evident.
“We’ve not seen a female take charge of a Premier League game ever before so it is significant. Then Sam being the first Black official since Uriah Rennie – an ex-colleague of mine – [which is] down to the quality of his performances in recent weeks in the Football League and the Championship. Both appointments are well deserved.
“But of course, it also shows them as role models. It demonstrates that people can make it through the pathway.
“They’re both from groups that are not traditionally represented in the Premier League officiating cohort and hopefully it might inspire other people to give it a go.”
Allison is a former professional footballer, having played for Swindon, Bristol City, Bournemouth and Exeter before moving into non-League.
“Clearly that’s given him an insight into the game, which is a little bit different if you haven’t played,” said Webb. “It also speaks to some of the work we’re doing to entice more players into refereeing.
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