Willie Collum: The barriers facing female referees I A Level Playing Field I Episode 13

In this episode, we’re joined by the Head of Refereeing at the Scottish FA, Willie Collum, for an honest and insightful conversation about the future of female referees in Scotland.Willie discusses the growing presence of women in officiating and the clear ambition to see female referees regularly taking charge of top-flight men’s matches.He opens up on areas the game isn’t talking about enough, including how referees manage training during the menstrual cycle and the challenges of returning to elite fitness after pregnancy.The conversation also tackles one of the biggest barriers facing female officials: the demands of the fitness tests. Alongside this, Willie reflects on his own journey in refereeing, sharing both the highs and the lows from his time on the pitch, offering a rare and personal perspective on the pressures of the role.Finally, he outlines his vision for the future and the practical steps being taken to attract, support, and retain more women in refereeing at every level of the game.A candid, forward-thinking discussion on breaking barriers and building the next generation of officials.Send us Fan MailSupport the showJoin A Level Playing Field for your weekly dose of women's football chat, alongside Alison McConnell and Cheryl Smith! Chat to your hosts on X HERE: @alibali76 @JournoCherylS