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When Mollie Kavanagh first became a referee, she said female officials were a rarity – but four years on she said times were changing. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
Currently there are 3,425 female match-day officials in England, almost 1,000 more than two years ago. <\/p>\n
When asked what advice she had for young women considering the pathway, she added: “Not everyone will share your opinion. <\/p>\n
“But when first I started out my dad always said it is a game of opinions – and the only one that matters is yours.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n