A POLICEWOMAN will make history this weekend when she becomes the first female assistant referee to take the field in an SPFL Scottish Premiership match.

Kylie McMullan will be on the line on Saturday for St Mirren's home fixture against Hearts.

Although this is her first match in the Premiership, she is already highly experienced. She has been an assistant referee in five SPFL Scottish Championship matches this season, including a top-of-the-table clash between Dundee and Falkirk, and in September she was appointed to the League One match between Rangers and Stenhousemuir which had an attendance of nearly 44,000.

Ms McMullan was also involved in the Women's Champions League quarter-final between VfL Wolfsburg and FC Barcelona in March. In 2013, she was an assistant referee at two matches at the FIFA Women's World Cup.

She said: "I was promoted in January, so I've been working hard since then to prepare for this level. When I found out about the appointment yesterday I was absolutely delighted.

"For the match I'll prepare as I would for any other game, but I'll be a bit more nervous. Once the first whistle is blown on Saturday though I'm sure it'll feel like any other game."

Head of Referee Operations John Fleming said: "Kylie's appointment is based on performance and is a justifiable reward having graduated through the same pathway as male officials.

"She performed at an exceptionally high level within domestic football and her experience in the Women's Champions League and the FIFA Women's World Cup means she is more than qualified for this Saturday's appointment."