Prior to the season beginning, we’ve been getting to know Dan O’Hearne’s Leeds United Women’s team a little bit more and learning about their career on and off the pitch. 

Dani Trickett has impressed the coaches and stepped up from the Under-23s side this season and is now hoping to gain some more playing time with the first team. 

The full-back is ambitious and wants to learn from other players around her, as the team edges closer to their pre-season matches starting.

Dani, tell us a bit about your footballing journey and how it all started for you?

“I started quite late, probably around 10 or 11 when I was in primary school. I first joined Sheffield United and was there for a few years, where I learnt to understand the game a lot more and what I needed to do. Then I moved to play for Leeds and have managed to play for the Under-23s and now hopefully I can get some game time with the first team.

“I started at Leeds in the Regional Talent Centre (RTC), I played there for a year which was good and I developed well there. Covid obviously then caused some issues and made things a bit hard for us, but I then progressed into the Under-23s. I played a bit of an on and off season there, which again was good for me as I got some game time and trained really well.

“Towards the end of last season I started training with the first team for a bit, which is a bit of a step up from the Under-23s as training is much more intense, which I think will help my development. I’m really looking forward to this season beginning and being more involved with the first team, both for training and in matches.” 



How have you found your recent step up in level, have you settled well? 

“Everyone has been great, the coaches are excellent and everyone is so welcoming to anyone that joins the club or steps up into the team. As a player who doesn’t know everyone, to come into a nice environment is great. There’s a couple of other girls who were in the U23s with me who have stepped up this season too, they are really good players so it’s nice to be with them too.”

In this modern-world of attacking and defensive full-backs, how would you describe yourself as a player?  

“I am quite an attacking right back I think. I like to be involved in the game, get down the wing and get some crosses into the box. I enjoy set-pieces as well, I don’t want to just always defend I want to be involved in everything if possible!

“To have Bassy [Rebekah Bass] there is great for me as a player, I can watch her on the pitch and see what she is doing, learn from her game play to improve myself. She’s a really good player, so to be able to play and see people with the experience that she has in the same position, it can only help me understand the game more and everything I need to improve on.” 

Everyone has a footballing hero, someone they want to be like, who is yours? 

“I really like looking at the leadership side, so I would have to say Jordan Henderson. I like how he really shows he is motivated and instills that onto others. For my position though, I really like watching Trent Alexander-Arnold. He’s an attacking right-back which is exactly what I like to do, creating chances as well as being strong defensively.”



It’s an exciting time for the club across all of its teams, how have you found representing Leeds United Women?

“It’s nice to play under the name of Leeds United, it really shows you are in the right place. I follow the men’s first team who are amazing to watch and playing for the club allows you to be a real part of it all, wearing the same kits in both training and matches. 

“The facilities at the club are fantastic, it’s really motivating. As a young player it helps to show there is a future for the game and if you keep working hard you can improve. Just seeing the coverage online, the interviews, it really motivates you to improve and keep working hard. A couple of years ago I think women’s football was at times viewed as a hobby, now people are really seeing how far it has developed and how fast it can keep growing.”

Finally Dani, we’ll end on a really important question, is it coming home? 

“I didn’t think we were amazing against Germany, we had our spells for sure but we were a bit on and off, but it was a great win for us! I am now like everyone else and really looking forward to Saturday, let’s see what happens!"