Whether by accident or design, Dale’s 100 Years anniversary match against Colchester on Friday night will have its own bit of history attached to it in the shape of referee Rebecca Welch.

The Tyne & Wear official will become the first female to referee a Rochdale game in what is her first appointment since joining the National List for this season.

Ms Welch did take charge of Harrogate v Port Vale on Easter Monday last season as a trial match to assess her suitability for promotion, which duly came about in the summer.

We have, of course, seen female assistant referees at several Dale games in recent years, but this is the first time the phrase Woman in the Middle has been used before one of our fixtures.

Formerly an administrator in the NHS, Rebecca is on the ‘elite’ list of UEFA officials and was a regular in the National League last term, alongside the Women’s Super League, as well as taking charge of Women’s Champions League matches.

She was due to referee Barrow v Hartlepool a couple of weeks ago, but was suffering with Covid problems which now, thankfully, appear to be over.

Photo: Action Images

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