Midfielder Sarah Danby’s season started with a home clash against Huddersfield Town. It could end as a European Champion in Munich…
For those in all walks of life, keen to take a well-earned break from jobs and enjoy the thrills of the action, football offers an escape, either on the field or watching from the terraces.
For Leeds United Women star and Police Officer Sarah Danby however, her career provides just another opportunity in the sport she holds so close to her heart.
“I have played for the GB Police team since 2016,” the midfielder proudly explains. “That was when I first found out that there was a team and I have been to two European tournaments. The first was Prague in 2016 and then again three years ago we were in Norway!”
Now in her eighth year representing the country’s Police outfit, skipper Danby and her teammates are now just one win away from reaching their third successive European Championships, with a tough test against Hungary in January deciding who gets the all-important ticket to Munich next summer.
“So that is another bit of football I have to try and find time to fit in! We tend to meet up every three months or so, with officers from all over the country so again it is nice to go and experience that. It is quite a privilege to be honest.”
Based out of England’s state-of-the-art facility St George’s Park, the training camp sees Danby’s colleagues from different parts of Britain come together and represent not only their country but their profession, with the 33-year-old proud to wear the armband and lead the side out on matchday.
“Captaining the Police team is incredible,” she continues, a smile on her face as she discusses her illustrious achievements both for club and country. “I am probably one of the more experienced players there, now, so it is a huge privilege for me to be able to do that. It is nice that you can go out and represent your workplace and your profession. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t proud of that. So, fingers crossed we can do well!”
That experience is something that has served the Durham-born player well domestically, with the midfielder featuring in all 22 FA WNL Division One North matches last term, as she approaches 100 appearances in all competitions for the Whites.
A Sunderland fan growing up in the North East, the childhood Mackem signed for the Black Cats aged 15, having come into football quite late.
“They were my first proper club when I was 15 because back in those days you could play at that age, there were no regulations against it. That is where I started my career but then I came to Leeds for university, while still playing for Sunderland for a season. Since then, I have been all over the place really.”
It was with the Wearside outfit that Sarah’s proudest moment came, facing Arsenal as the Black Cats reached the 2008/09 Women’s FA Cup final at Derby County’s Pride Park Stadium. The Gunners would narrowly prevail thanks to Kim Little’s last-gasp winner, seeing the North Londoners make it back-to-back triumphs in the competition after beating finalists Leeds in the previous campaign.
A switch to powerhouses Manchester City followed, before Danby enjoyed spells with West Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town and Bradford City among other clubs, eventually joining the Whites ahead of the 2021/22 season. All that while balancing ongoing work and Police team commitments.
“My dad and my uncle were the people who inspired me to play,” she adds, as attentions turn to her earlier footballing memories. “My dad played for an over-50s team, which is how I got into it really and began just playing with the lads in the street. Then I started playing for a boys’ team, which wouldn’t happen now, but back then there just wasn’t the girls’ teams like there are now.
“Eventually, I got to an age where I actually did start playing for a girls’ team when I was 13 or 14. It was quite late really when you think about it! It is a totally different world now, all for the better, obviously. The number of little girls playing football now compared to when I was playing is phenomenal and the opportunities and the teams that are available to them is amazing!”
We are speaking with the midfielder after the Whites fell to a last-gasp defeat at the hands of Middlesbrough Women at Garforth’s Bannister Prentice Stadium. Leeds had gone a goal behind against the Teesside outfit early on, but a well-taken brace from Amy Woodruff had put Simon Wood’s side into the lead at half-time.
An inspired second-half display from Boro saw the visitors fight back to level, and despite Danby and her teammates defending resolutely in the dying stages, the away side weren’t to be denied victory as Jess Mett fired home with moments left to play.
Danby is visibly frustrated as she walks in and sits down, but those emotions quickly disperse as we discuss playing in front of the Leeds supporters.
“We absolutely love it, honestly,” she laughs, a smile that quickly puts the result to the back of her mind. “I am being genuine when I say it is one of my favourite things when you see the little kids and chat with them at full-time. Today, there was a girl stood there nervously and I asked her for a high five and then you could just tell her day had been made.
“They think that we are making their days, but a lot of the time they’re making ours. It doesn’t matter whether we win or we lose, whether we have played well or played terribly, they are really excited at the end. They want our autographs, want photographs and it is great that we can have that engagement with these kids who might eventually go on and maybe play for Leeds or play for any team. We love that and I think that is a really good thing that Garforth support as well.”
Inspiring the next generation is hugely important to Danby and her teammates, taking time to speak with fans and helping them feel connected to the club no matter the result, remembering she was once one of those youngsters itching to meet her heroes.
“It is tough sat here after a defeat today,” she continues, analysing the match and giving her thoughts on where she can improve. “But looking at it, I think that Middlesbrough are probably the favourites to go up in my opinion, so we have been toe-to-toe with them until the last minutes of the game. It is not out of reach and naturally we want to aim for promotion.”
The next few months are crucial for Danby, competing both for the league title with her club and trying to book a ticket to Munich with the GB Police Team. A third tournament representing her country would cap off a stellar career, something the skipper is positive she can help become a reality.
“We need to qualify first, but I am really confident that we will do that – I am the captain now you see!”
Leeds United Women continue their FA WNL Division One North campaign this weekend, as they welcome Durham Cestria to the Bannister Prentice Stadium. Read our match preview HERE.
