For Natalie Aspinall, refereeing started as a way to earn some extra pocket money. Now, nearly three decades later, she’s officiating at the highest level of English football.
Though Aspinall was one of the first female officials to break through to the Premier League, she didn’t grow up dreaming of this career.
But when her dad, a local referee, suggested she take a refereeing course instead of a newspaper round at 14, the choice was simple. “I realised I could either work for an hour as a referee or wake up every morning at 6am for the same money,” she recalls.
It was a decision that set her on a life-changing path.
Breaking down barriers
In the late nineties, girl's and women’s football was much less developed than it is now and opportunities were scarce, so Aspinall’s route to the top was through the men’s game.
“At the time, there wasn’t much women’s football, so my progression was entirely through men’s football - boys’ teams, grassroots levels, and then eventually being offered opportunities in what was then the Women’s Premier League,” she said.
Being one of the few women in a traditionally male-dominated space wasn’t straightforward. Basic facilities, like dedicated ladies’ changing rooms, were often unavailable.
But rather than let it deter her, she adapted.
“When we arrived at clubs, there were often no changing rooms or toilets for female referees. So, I would arrive already dressed in my kit with a tracksuit over it," the official said.
The structural barriers were clear, and so were the expectations. “For you to be seen as average, you have to be better than average,” her dad had told her - a lesson she has carried throughout her career.
Reaching the top
Aspinall progressed through the ranks of men’s football, becoming a FIFA List referee in 2007. But when she reached the Football League, now the English Football League (EFL), she faced a decision to continue as a referee or specialise as an assistant.
“At the time, I didn’t think the football world was ready for a female referee in the Football League, let alone the Premier League,” she admits. “I felt I had a better chance of succeeding as an assistant referee.”
It was a choice that ultimately led her to three Women's World Cups, a Women’s UEFA Champions League final, and a full-time career in the Premier League. “If I had chosen to be a referee, I probably wouldn’t have officiated at a World Cup,” she says. “So for me, it was the right choice at the right time.”
The landscape has since changed. In December 2023, Rebecca Welch became the first woman to officiate a Premier League match – a milestone made possible through the Premier League-funded Elite Referee Development Plan (ERDP).
This initiative, along with PGMOL’s modernised and more fluid pathway, has created new opportunities for female officials to rise through the ranks.
PGMOL’s Women’s Select Group has also expanded significantly in recent years, providing a much wider and more diverse pool of talented officials. With greater support than ever before, this growing group is helping to pave the way for more women to succeed at the highest levels of the game.
This has tangible results, with eight officials from the group joining Aspinall on the FIFA List of International Referees in the last two years.
Representation and responsibility
Aspinall recognises the impact of visibility. As a mother, she’s seen firsthand how her presence in the game can shift perspectives. “When my eldest daughter was four, she was playing at nursery and one of the dads told her to join a team because it had more boys," she added.
“She turned around and said, ‘Girls can play football. My mummy does football'.”
It crystallised for her the importance of representation. “I don’t think I fully understood the impact I could have until then," she continued. "It made me realise how important it is for young girls to see women in these spaces and think, ‘If she can do it, maybe I can too’.”
Over the years, women have carved out a rightful place in the men’s game - in the stands, in the press box, and now on the pitch.
Sian Massey-Ellis became the first female assistant referee in 2010, but it took another 13 years for Rebecca Welch to officiate a Premier League match.
Aspinall acknowledges the importance of those who paved the way. “Having women ahead of me in the game was inspiring, and now it’s special to be part of a group of women pushing boundaries together.”
Still, she emphasises one key point: “We don’t want to be seen as female referees - just referees. Judge us on our ability, not on anything else.”
Handling the pressure
Refereeing at the highest level comes with scrutiny, but for Aspinall, being a woman in the role adds another layer of expectation, knowing that any errors could potentially impact the reputation of female officials as a whole.
“I put a lot of additional pressure on myself, not just to be a good match official but to do a good job for my children and to represent all the girls coming through,” she admits.
Her first season in the Premier League was a steep learning curve. “I worked with sports psychologists to manage it," she went on. "You’re making split-second decisions involving millimetres and centimetres, so I had to learn to compartmentalise that pressure and focus on my job.”
And while criticism is part of the profession, she’s clear on her right to occupy the space. “I’ve gone through the exact same process as every male official who has reached the Premier League.
“I’ve passed the same tests, met the same fitness standards, and gone through the same interview processes. I’m not here to tick a box. I’m here because I’m good enough.”
What does the future hold?
Aspinall has already achieved milestones she once thought were out of reach. “I remember the local newspaper did a story on me when I first started refereeing at 14. They asked where I saw myself in the future, and I said I’d love to be an assistant referee in the Football League. It felt like such a huge ambition at the time.
“To have now gone beyond that and officiated at World Cups and in the Premier League is something I never imagined possible.”
With clearer pathways into refereeing for young girls, there are now more and better opportunities than ever before to ensure that the female officials coming through are well equipped to follow in Aspinall’s footsteps.
So, what’s next for her?
“Retirement!” she laughs. “No, honestly, right now I just want to enjoy being in the Premier League and being successful here.”
She has already left an incredible legacy. But as more women follow in her footsteps, her advice is simple. She explained: “Work hard, follow your dreams, and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something because of who you are.
“In fact, being different might be exactly what that industry needs. So keep going, believe in yourself, and don’t give up.”