Football

Wow! Amazing recognition for our Cheryl!

MERTHYR TYDFIL, WALES - 23 APRIL 2023: Match referee Cheryl Foster during the 2022/23 FAW Women's Cup Final between Cardiff City Women & Briton Ferry Llansawel Ladies, Penydarren Park, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales (Pic By Ashley Crowden/FAW)

Cheryl Foster during the 2022/23 FAW Women’s Cup Final between Cardiff City Women and Briton Ferry Llansawel Ladies, Penydarren Park, Merthyr Tydfil (Pic By Ashley Crowden/FAW)

North Wales wonder woman Cheryl Foster has been awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to Welsh Football.

Foster is a former Cymru international player who was capped 63 times and scored nine goals during her career.

Hailing from Llandudno, Cheryl has officiated at the highest level of both men’s and women’s domestic football in Wales and earned her FIFA badge in 2015 and was promoted to the UEFA Elite List of Referees in the 2020/21 season.

In August 2018 she became the first woman to referee a game in the JD Cymru Premier and in June 2022 took charge of the UEFA Women’s Champions League Final between FC Barcelona and VFL Wolfsburg.

A testament to her abilities as a top class match official, Foster was appointed to other significant matches with highlights including a UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 Semi-Final match between Germany and France; and the third-place play-off match between Sweden and Australia at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Cheryl refereeing a Welsh Premier Women’s League game at Rhyl with assistants Laura Griffiths (left) and Charley Smith

On learning about her honour, Foster said: “I am so honoured and privileged to receive an MBE for my services to football in Wales.

“This recognition is not just a personal achievement but a testament to the incredible opportunities and support I have been so fortunate to receive from the FAW throughout my journey as a player and now as a referee.”

Foster finished this current season by officiating the Bute Energy Welsh Cup Final between Cardiff City and Wrexham. The match official has also been an inspirational figure in attracting more people to consider refereeing and to get involved in the game.

Playing career

Llandudno girl Cheryl started training as a referee in 2013 after retiring as a professional footballer aged 32.

After starting her football career at Conwy Devils, she moved to Bangor City and was a huge success in Keith Fearns’ successful side of the turn of the millennium, finishing top-scorer in every season between 1999/00 and 2002/03 and winning the Welsh Cup twice.

She joined Liverpool in 2003 and by 2009-10 was the Reds’ longest serving player.

That season she was the Northern Division top marks-woman with 16 goals as Liverpool romped to the title.

After being released by the Merseyside club in 2012, she had a brief spell at Doncaster Rovers Belles before deciding to retire and take up refereeing.