If you do not recognise the name Rebecca Welch, then by this weekend it should be impossible not to know who she is.

Welch will become the first female referee in Premier League history, when she steps on to the hallowed turf at Craven Cottage to officiate the match between Fulham and Burnley. Even better, amid all the Santa hats and fancy-dress costumes that are traditional at any festive football fixture, I will be present with both my football-loving daughters to witness a genuinely historic moment.

Sometimes, change truly is tangible, seismic and historic. For once, we can recognise this as it happens, rather than waiting for the later endorsement of history. Although it has so far still to go, it is impossible to overstate the positive transformation in the stadium environments of football and attitudes towards........

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