Charlie is club’s first junior referee

WHISTLE at the ready... new ref Charlie Evans

DISGRACED presenter Andy Gray’s comments on female referees have not put off one football-mad teenager.

Charlie Evans (14) has proved that girls do understand the offside law — and everything else about the game — by becoming Chadderton Park FC’s first junior referee.

She took charge of her first two matches at the weekend after receiving her referee qualification from the Manchester FA.

North Chadderton School pupil Charlie has been playing for four years and captains the club’s under 15s team.

The Manchester United supporter also helps to coach younger players and is now refereeing in the U10s division of the North Manchester Girls League.

Proud parents Craig and Vicky Evans, of Partridge Way, Chadderton, have no fears about Charlie being hassled by players and parents.

She has to referee her first few games under the watchful eye of mentors and Vicky said: “The matches she is doing at the moment, where the girls are quite young, I do not think we have any worries.

“She was really good at the weekend. She is quietly confident, she knows what she has got to do and gets on and does it.

“The two mentors she was with said she handled the games very well.

“The only thing she needed to do was to blow her whistle a bit louder, but that will come.”

Vicky thanked Michelle Cooper from the North Manchester Girls League for arranging mentors to work with Charlie.