Referee Foster included in King's birthday honours

Cheryl Foster became the first woman to referee a game in the Cymru Premier - Wales' top men's division - in 2018

Welsh referee Cheryl Foster has been included in the King's birthday honours list.

The former Wales forward, 43, has been appointed an MBE for services to association football and women's sport.

She became Wales' first World Cup referee in 45 years when she took charge of Brazil's 4-0 win against Panama in Adelaide in 2023.

Foster had been selected to officiate at the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. She refereed four games in total, including the third-place play-off match between Australia and Sweden.

Foster became the first Welsh woman to officiate at a major tournament at Euro 2022 and was then in charge of the 2023 Champions League final between Barcelona and Wolfsburg in Eindhoven.

Foster began refereeing in 2013 and was added to Fifa's international list of referees in 2015 and promoted to Uefa's elite list five years later.

Foster also now helps the Football Association of Wales (FAW) in its recruitment drive for more women and, despite her full-time job as a teacher and active referee, she gives up her time to be available for the FAW’s women-only referee course and to act as leader, mentor and coach to the newly qualified officials.

Her glittering refereeing career followed a successful playing stint which started at Bangor City Ladies team in the Welsh system.

Foster joined Liverpool, where she won three league titles and scored the club’s first goal in the Women’s Super League (WSL).

She also won 63 Wales caps between 1997 and 2011, which was a record at the time.

"I am immensely proud, crazy really a girl from Llandudno is an MBE," Foster told BBC Radio Wales.

"The impact this journey has had on a lot of people, friends and family, the school I work in, the FAW and the PGMOL in England, means there is a lot of people I have to thank to get this honour.

"When I first started refereeing, I didn't know where it would go, I thought I would give it a try and it looked like I was ok at it.

"The last two years has been a bit of a whirlwind and incredible but it has got me to where I am now. I am so overwhelmed and very proud."

Ian Martin, from Mold, was appointed an MBE for services to sport and charity, while Neath hockey club chair Derek Salisbury received the same accolade for services to hockey in south Wales.

British Empire Medals (BEM) were received by Barrie Jenkins, the vice-chair and head coach for Cardiff Chameleons, for services to bowls in Wales and Mark Portsmouth for his services to sport in Mumbles, Swansea.