Fame and fortune has never been further from Alex Danson’s mind as she prepares to lead England into into the women’s hockey World Cup which starts in London this weekend.
A number of Danson’s Great Britain team-mates seized their rare moment in the spotlight in the wake of the historic Olympic gold medal in Rio by signing up to celebrity opportunities.
But despite being poised to become one of the nation’s most successful sportswomen if she leads England to World Cup glory for the first time, 33-year-old Danson is determined to stay under the radar.
Danson told Press Association Sport: “I still never get recognised outside the hockey community and I see that as the perfect balance – I am able to live an entirely normal life away from my sport.
“I am very supportive of the path anyone wants to take. I have been asked about various things but I am quite happy blending in. The important thing is that my team and my sport are at the forefront.”
For Danson, whose team open up against India at Lea Valley on Saturday, success is measured in the strides her sport has taken since she played in her first World Cup with England in Perth, Australia in 2002.
Good Morning London 🤩 #HWC2018 @Vitality_UK pic.twitter.com/SnW8tDaVg6
— England Hockey (@EnglandHockey) July 18, 2018
Then, England’s resolutely amateur line-up were eliminated in the group stage after winning three of their seven pool games, but subsequent success has left the squad in an entirely different place going into their first event as hosts.
“It was so special to go to my first World Cup but it was difficult because all of us had full-time jobs or were students, and we all had to wear the same shirts we’d worn through the previous year,” said Danson.
“There was no funding or infrastructure so there are really are stark differences now. We are able to be a lot more professional and we have had a lot more time together so hopefully that is going to pay off.”
England suffered a disappointing semi-final defeat to New Zealand on penalties at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games but rebounded to beat Saturday’s opponents India 6-0 in the bronze medal match.
They are aiming to become the first England women’s team to reach a World Cup final, surpassing their current best performance of third place in Rosario in 2010.
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