Female referees on the rise, says 19-year-old ref

There are almost 1,000 more female match-day officials in England than in 2023

When Mollie Kavanagh first became a referee, she said female officials were a rarity - but four years on she said times were changing.

The 19-year-old, from Coventry, began her journey in football as a goalkeeper, before she progressed to coaching and eventually finding her passion as a sports official.

In 2023, the FA launched a three-year strategy to grow the number of women referees in the game, a move that has already made difference on the pitch, Mollie said.

"I've met so many different inspirational women that I'm really happy to work with," she said, adding that a recent game boasted a team of four female officials.

Mollie has progressed to now being able to officiate men's matches in level six of the English football pyramid, as well as in the Women's National League.

She said the testing journey to becoming a referee included a number of matches that had to be observed, alongside development days and a fitness test that has been newly introduced this season.

"There is definitely a pressure there, but at the end of the day you just have to try your best to get every decision right," she told BBC CWR.

Currently there are 3,425 female match-day officials in England, almost 1,000 more than two years ago.

When asked what advice she had for young women considering the pathway, she added: "Not everyone will share your opinion.

"But when first I started out my dad always said it is a game of opinions - and the only one that matters is yours."