A highly-rated local football referee will be taking charge of a historic clash this weekend.

Chelsea Hodgson will take charge of this weekend's match between Accrington Stanley Women and The Isle of Man National Women's Team at The Wham Stadium.

Chelsea will referee her 15th cup final this year, despite it only being her fifth season with the whistle, while she has also recently been voted Senior Referee of the Year for the West Lancashire League.

Her remarkable rise in the game has also seen her previously win female official of the season, while she has also had the opportunity to take charge of England U17s v Norway U17s, as well as being involved in other international games and various charity matches.

Based in Hyndburn, Chelsea is also a level five official in the men's game, having worked her way up the ladder from being a lineswoman for three seasons in the North West Counties divisions, and now targeting the English Football League.

Chelsea said: "I started my refereeing career by wanting to see a different perspective in football.

"Back in 2018 I was playing football, as well as having tried bits of coaching, and I thought it would go hand in hand skills-wise, to support my teaching career.

"Originally I started out refereeing thinking I would be doing junior grassroots games and that would be me.

“However, I quickly had a lot of people starting to believe in me and who wanted to push me further, which I am extremely grateful for.”

Chelsea then moved on to start officiating in women's football at county level before working up to national matches.

She is hoping she will be in the Championship soon and progressing on into the Women’s Super League and FIFA international tournaments.

From 2pm the club will celebrate the success of Accrington Stanley Women with a pitchside parade, which will see players from throughout the club's different age groups take part in the spectacle.

There will also be half-time entertainment featuring a crossbar challenge, sponsored by Sundown Solutions, headed up by Strongman Mark Felix, who will attempt to hit the crossbar to win £10,000 towards a new minibus for Accrington Stanley Women.