Amy's flying the flag for female referees

Congratulations to Amy Purser (OB 2016-2018) who has recently been promoted into the PGMOL women’s select group as an assistant referee operating within the Women’s Championship and Women’s Super League for the new season.

“I started refereeing when I was in lower 6th at Brentwood and I decided to qualify as a referee because I needed a job and I didn’t want to give up my weekends of football for minimum wage. I very quickly progressed through the refereeing ranks of both the men’s and women’s game, regularly refereeing at step 5 of the men’s game and in the Women’s National League. This season I was selected by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) to be an assistant referee in the professional women’s game and have made my debut in the 2nd highest tier of women’s football in the country - The Barclay’s Women’s Championship. My highlight so far has been officiating at Saint Mary’s home of Southampton FC in front of 2,500 fans. I have also recently passed my fitness test which makes me eligible for selection to referee in the highest tier of women’s football in the county - The Women’s Super League (WSL) - for next season! My ambitions are to progress to the WSL next season and to make the FIFA list of international match officials soon after and hopefully one day represent England at an international tournament. I also plan to continue progressing through the men’s game and one day feature in the Premier League."

We wish Amy well with her ambitions and hope to see her officiating in the Premier League in the near future.