Louise Thompson: ‘I wanted to take advantage of it,’ says historic referee

Thompson began refereeing in 2017 after her playing career ended, and she was debating whether to whistle or go the coach route.

“I took the course for both. Once I started refereeing I really enjoyed it.

“From then on, opportunities just kept coming my way. It was fantastic, but as I started to move up the ranks, I knew this was where I wanted to be finally happen.

“Fortunately, it happened.”

Thompson, who has also officiated at international level, adds that being a former player helps her read the game and understand players’ frustrations during the match.

While Saturday’s game was uneventful, Thompson offered congratulations to the “umpire family” if they were having a difficult afternoon and best wishes ahead of Saturday’s game.

“The team around me is fantastic. Even the guys who weren’t with me today were sending me messages. The whole referee family was with me.

“You have to learn and it really helps me as a person. Again, with the referees’ family, you know you can pick up the phone and talk to them about what happened.”

In addition to doing a good job, Thompson adds that she wants to be “a good role model” to those who admire her historic achievements.

“At the end of the day, you just want to open it up to people so they know it’s possible,” she said.

“It’s one of the hardest jobs you can do, but it’s also one of the most rewarding. The experiences you have are simply fantastic.”