Amy Fearn makes football history

Amy Fearn made history on Tuesday night by becoming the first female to referee a football league match.

Fearn, recently married, maybe more recognised by the name Amy Rayner a predominant feature running the line in the football league, but she stepped into the middle after her colleague Tony Bates got injured.

Mrs Fearn was running the line for the opening 70 minutes of the Championship fixture between Coventry City and Nottingham Forest at The Ricoh Arena until the referee Tony Bates pulled as calf and after lengthy treatment from the Coventry physio, was forced to come off. Fearn, as the next senior official of the remaining three, was the obvious choice to take over and thus making history by being the first woman to referee a football league game.

I spoke to Fearn's colleague Chris Sarginson on the history making official and he said "It is very difficult for a lady to get to the top in men's football but why not? Amy has been at her level for many years so is very experienced."

After this Amy will no doubt be looking now at promotion to football league middle and this is a feat, Sarginson believes could happen "FL ref is a big step though. Being a lady no doubt makes it harder but she is strong enough to do it."

Her confidence will no doubt be sky high, and at only 31 years of age it is not impossible for her to make the Premier League list, something I sincerely hope she achieves, but for now she must just get on with things and concentrate on her next appointment, 4th official at Leicester vs Scunthorpe.