Teenager thrilled with Wembley work experience (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Teenager thrilled with Wembley work experience
11:50am Wednesday 30th May 2012 in News By Tanya O'Rourke
Bethan Smith with referee Sasa Ihringova and officials at Wembley
An Ilkley teenager has kick-started a career in football by shadowing a referee at Wembley Stadium.
Bethan Smith, 15, was selected to do work experience with the Football League’s most senior woman referee, Sasa Ihringova, as part of Npower’s What’s Your Goal campaign.
After being chosen as one of 11 lucky winners to take part in the scheme because of her passion for football, she spent the day at Wembley for the League One Play Offs and attended the official referee briefing. She then watched a match and learned refereeing skills before helping to officiate an under-12s match at Charlton Athletic.
The teenager said the weekend shadowing Miss Ihringova was one she would “not forget any time soon”.
She said: “She was a great mentor and really helped me to understand what it takes to be a successful referee, and especially being a female referee.
“Being able to attend the official referee briefing at Wembley was an amazing experience, I even got to stand in the tunnel with them before they went on the pitch.”
Miss Ihringova said she was impressed by Bethan’s knowledge and enthusiasm. “I hope I’ve been able to inspire her to follow her dreams of being a football referee,” she said.
