RAF and Women's Super League official calls for more female referees after women's football boom

RAF and Women's Super League referee Corporal Lauren Impey wants more female officials to get involved with the women's game after a hugely successful year.

The Lionesses' win at the European Championships has catapulted women's football to new heights with attendances soaring in the FA WSL.

Cpl Impey, who was speaking after winning the Official of the Year award at the RAF Sports Awards, thinks it's a great opportunity for women to get involved in football.

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"Hopefully, with the skill level that is on show now," said Cpl Impey. "Those that obviously don't necessarily have a career in football because they've reached the end of the road or maybe they perhaps actually want to be referee.

"Opportunities do exist and they exist for all."

2022 saw the England women's team capture lots of attention across the country with their performances in their home tournament.

Impey was one of those watching on impressed, saying: "It's been absolutely phenomenal.

"What the England team have done this summer has just propelled the women's game to a new planet."

Cpl Impey juggles her RAF career with her refereeing duties and explained why she got into the officiating side of the sport.

"That came from my own personal journey where I was playing for Leicester City at the time," she said.

"We had a referee and, unfortunately, I gave away a penalty which I, hand on my heart, promise you was not a penalty.

"It was three yards outside the box but that is what made me think 'right, you can keep complaining and do absolutely nothing about it or you can try and be part of the change'.

"In 2015, I took up the whistle and, honestly, I just haven't looked back."