A year after taking up golf, Rachel Daly has already reached a handicap of 19. I don’t lead a very exciting life.” Instead, Daly wants to talk about the new Women’s Super League season, which is more than fair enough. Coincidentally, by next summer, 19 will be the number of seasons Daly has played at the top level, ever since breaking into Leeds’ first team as a 16-year-old in 2008, and therefore it feels reasonable to disagree with her view that a former Olympian, who played 84 times for England and was the WSL’s player of the season only three years ago, does not lead an exciting life.
Yet there is another number on Daly’s mind as she discusses her role as Aston Villa’s captain. It shows that they respect me and they value me, which is nice. And equally so do I [respect them].
I’m kind of a person that believes everyone should have a voice in the building. If I can reflect that to the wider group, then they can feel comfortable being able to communicate. It’s very different from when I was at their age, how I was experiencing football.
They’re all very privileged where they’re at right now. When I was younger, we were paying to play, we were in men’s kits, the whole stereotypes and all that, but it’s true, that’s exactly what was happening. I try to give them my perspective of where I was at their age.
I think it helps them a little bit to understand where the game has come from. They’re a really good bunch.” Daly is now heading into her fifth season at Villa, having arrived there from Houston Dash shortly after starting every game of England’s triumphant 2022 Euros campaign. She had spent six years with the National Women’s Soccer League side and clearly likes being settled.
I don’t like to jump about. I [like] that familiarity of being at the same place. Villa has a big place in my heart.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
