Official: Daisy's the world's youngest female football ref (From Somerset County Gazette)

Official: Daisy's the world's youngest female football ref

7:10am Sunday 23rd September 2012 in News

A 16-YEAR-OLD girl has spoken of her delight after being declared the world’s youngest female football referee.

Daisy Goldsmith became a qualified referee on her 14th birthday and her achievement has this week entered the Guinness World Records.

Daisy, of Puriton, near Bridgwater, referees men’s and women’s matches in several competitions, including the Taunton and District Saturday League, and also plays football for Bishops Lydeard Ladies.

She said: “I’m really excited and it’s good to get publicity for young women referees.

“When I’m refereeing, people are more surprised that I’m a woman than they are by my age.

“As a referee you get stick, but it’s good to have a hard stomach. Every match I go to is an experience but whatever people say comes with the territory.

“I find a lot of it humorous.

“My family all encourage me when I’ve had a day that’s not been so pleasant. The Somerset FA are fantastic, too.”

Sports-mad Daisy also coaches football at her school, Kings of Wessex Academy in Cheddar, and enjoys netball, hockey, cricket, cycling and running.

She added: “I would encourage other people to take up refereeing; I get a lot out of it.

“It’s such a good confidence builder and you build so many good social relationships.”

In recognition of her record-breaking status, Daisy has received a certificate and will appear in the next edition of the annual Guinness publication.

Her entry in the book records that in her first match as a qualified referee Daisy gave a penalty against her own school team – Chilton Trinity Technology College in Bridgwater.