FERMANAGH referee Louise Thompson will again make Northern Ireland football history as the first female to officiate at a Sports Direct Premiership men’s match when she takes charge of Crusaders v Dungannon Swifts at Seaview on Saturday, January 11.
Louise became the Irish FA’s first-ever female FIFA referee in 2020.
She then led an all female team to officiate at the Irish Cup fifth round tie between Newry City and Bangor – the first time in the blue riband competition’s 139-year history.
That was followed by her appointment as the first female to take charge of an Intermediate Cup final.
Rachel Greer, who ran the line that night (with Vicky Finlay on the other touchline) will again be one of Louise’s assistants in the Crues-Swifts game.
It’s another major step on the refereeing career path of the 34-year-old Maguiresbridge woman who took up the whistle after a serious knee injury ended her playing career with Fermanagh Mallards.
Louise explained: “I had played football for 14 years playing at Premiership and Championship level, winning Cup and league titles when a knee ligament injury meant I had to give it up.
“I had done my coaching badges when I took the opportunity to do a free introductory female referee’s course in Fermanagh and I have been fully enjoying the experience ever since.
“When it came to the fitness tests I already had a good level of fitness from playing and I had a knowledge of the laws of the game but yet there was still so much to learn.
“My first game was a youth game and there’s no doubt I found it nerve wracking. I had been so used to going out with the rest of my team and all of a sudden there I was in the dressing room and in the middle of the pitch on my own.
“I loved it though and I went on to have a lot of great opportunities with the Fermanagh and Western Referee Association, NIBFA league, IFA and NIWFA.”
Role model Louise, who competes in showjumping when she isn’t refereeing, was so determined to succeed she reduced her hours at work to enable her to dedicate more of her time.
“Once I start something I am committed to it and give it 100%,” said Louise. “When I began refereeing I was determined to be the best I could be. I work in retail and because I couldn’t get Saturday’s off to referee, I reduced my hours and opted to go part time so I was always available for games.”
Insisting she doesn’t find controlling men’s games daunting, she added: “In day to day life I wouldn’t say I am a strong personality but during a game you have to be – especially in the men’s games. If you are going out there to try and control 22 men on the pitch and maybe another 15 on the sidelines you will have a long day ahead of you if you aren’t strong and don’t have control.
“As a referee I think I have empathy for the players, because as a former player you know what they are going through. I also like to be fair and consistent.
“The key is to stay calm and not get stressed by a situation – you need to stay mentally sharp at all times. The minute you start to rise to a game then that’s when you lose control.
“You also have to be able to deal with any criticism that is directed at you whether it’s on the pitch or off. Sometimes the level of abuse is something you can’t always control. You try not to take too much disrespect from the players but once the crowd starts there’s very little you can do about them. You always know yourself if you’ve had a good game or not.”
The hope at the Irish FA is that Louise’s latest step up will act as an incentive for other women to enrol in their referee classes.
From left: Rachel Greer, who will run the line at Seaview, Louise Thompson and Vicky Finlay
Andrew Davey, Senior Refereeing Manager at the Irish Football Association, said: “This is a landmark moment for women’s refereeing in Northern Ireland.
“Louise’s dedication and relentless effort have brought her to the pinnacle of football officiating in Northern Ireland, a well-deserved recognition of her skill and hard work.
“Her success demonstrates the growing opportunities for women not only in the women’s game but in the men’s game as well, providing a clear pathway for future female referees to aim for the highest levels of football.”
Louise refereeing a game between Northern Ireland Women’s Under-16s and American side Surf Select at SuperCup NI in 2022
