Referee Rebecca Welch has made history by becoming the first female official to be appointed to the EFL’s National Group list for the men’s professional game.

It means the Tyne & Wear official is likely to be in charge of a Carlisle United fixture at some stage in the 2021/22 season.

Welch already made headlines in April when she became the first woman to preside over an EFL match - Port Vale's 2-0 win at Harrogate.

Her place on the National Group list now puts the respected Welch among the referees who will take charge of League One and Two fixtures in the forthcoming campaign.

She was promoted to the National Group list alongside fellow referees Simon Mather, Andrew Kitchen and Tom Reeves.

The EFL said in a statement: “Ahead of the start of the 2021/22 season, the Select Group 2 (SG2) and National Group Referees List has been confirmed to officiate across the Sky Bet EFL.

“Tom Bramall and John Busby will be joining the Select Group 2 pool of referees for the upcoming campaign, whilst Simon Mather, Rebecca Welch, Andrew Kitchen and Tom Reeves have earned promotion to the National Group list.

“Rebecca Welch’s promotion makes her the first female referee appointee to the National Group list for the men’s professional game.”

When Welch takes charge of a Carlisle game it will be the first competitive Blues fixture with a female referee.

Back in 1994 United were involved in the first Football League fixture to involve a female official, when Wendy Toms ran the line in the Blues' 1-1 draw at Torquay.