Any avid Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) fan would recognise the name Stacy-Ann Greyson, the assistant referee on the rise.

She thrives as one of five female referees’ in Jamaica’s top league where male officials usually dominate.With 11 years of refereeing under her belt, Greyson has gained respect and recognition playing a dominant role in the local league. Having been offered a chance to officiate at the 2014 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica, an opportunity she happily accepted, Greyson is among the bright stars of the region.“Refereeing for the RSPL matches really prepared me for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup,” said Greyson. “Officiating the women’s matches was less demanding as opposed to the Premier League matches simply because men are naturally fast-paced.“Training in order to keep up with the RSPL matches definitely had me in tip-top shape for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.”FIFA has made a priority of creating more career opportunities for women within the industry. It’s a move that has been applauded by local league sponsors Red Stripe. The beer brand is encouraging more women who love and have experience in the sport to follow Greyson’s lead.“Recognising that there are no limitations for women within the industry, we want to see more female coaches and referees,” said Reshima Kelly, assistant brand manager for Red Stripe.“It’s certainly a great time to make use of the opportunity and further pave the way for future females as Greyson has done,” she argued.Greyson has officiated a total of 29 matches in the 2016/2017 RSPL season, which is slated to end on June 5 at the National Stadium. This summer she will be officiating the U-17 Women’s qualification for the Caribbean.