Female Football Week Spotlight: Celebrating FSC Referee Sarah Ratcliffe
Sarah Ratcliffe’s love for football kicked off in the schoolyard, where she helped form a local U12 girls team — playing rain, hail, or shine in oversized jerseys and making memories that would last a lifetime. Whether battling through muddy finals on Father’s Day or staying up late to watch the Socceroos, football was always more than just a sport to Sarah — it was a passion.
As the seasons rolled on and teammates moved on, Sarah stayed the course. She took on managing, self-coaching, and advocating for better training spaces and fairer access to resources. She witnessed firsthand the positive change that came when women stepped into leadership roles within clubs, driving improvements in facilities, equipment, and player pathways. Thanks to efforts like hers, teams like Sarah’s saw promotions, rep team selections, and a future in the Premier League.
When injuries sidelined her in 2023, Sarah wasn’t ready to walk away from the game. Instead, she picked up the whistle and discovered a new love for refereeing. Jumping in with both feet, she was soon officiating up to eight games a weekend, learning from experienced referees, taking on assistant referee duties, completing advanced courses, and even refereeing grand finals — including the 2024 U16G State Cup Final.
Her journey continued with summer soccer and the Proctor Park Challenge in Bathurst, where she fast-tracked her growth and connected with other inspiring female referees across NSW.
Beyond football, Sarah has given back to her community through coaching, umpiring, and mentoring in netball, gymnastics, and swimming. Today, she’s also proud to serve as a Female Football Champion at SSFRA.
And now, in 2025, we’re excited to officially welcome Sarah to the FSC Referees team! Her energy, leadership, and depth of experience make her an incredible addition, and we can’t wait to see the impact she’ll make this season.
Sarah’s advice for anyone thinking of getting involved?
“Reach out to your local referee branch or club and ask how they’ll support you. Even better — bring a friend and sign up for a referee course near you:”
👉 Find a referee course
This Female Football Week, we’re proud to shine a light on leaders like Sarah — showing just how powerful passion, perseverance, and community can be. 💙
