Danni the Champion of the West: Top award for TUFC Director

Co-authored by Torquay United and The Torbay Weekly

Torquay United Director Danielle Wyatt has been chosen as winner of the Women in Sport top prize at the Westcountry Women Awards held at the Crowne Plaza in Plymouth.

Wyatt picked up the prize for her tireless work in helping to elevate Torquay United Women as a genuine force in female football across Devon.

As well as being a player for the Gulls, Wyatt does an immense amount of work behind the scenes in promoting TUFC Women, helping to organise the day-today running of the club and facilitating the move to become a recognised entity under the full club umbrella.

And all of this while also serving on the Torquay United Board of Directors, the Torquay United Supporters’ Trust Board, and keeping up her day job at Wickes in Torquay!

“I was thinking how it was great to be at the event among some amazing women,” said Danni. “My category was actually toward the end of the night, so I was just listening to all these incredible, powerful stories from other women at the event.

“I never thought I was going to win, so I didn’t prepare anything beforehand. The Devon and Cornwall Police Commissioner Alison Hernandez was in attendance and I was just fascinated by the stories around me.

“The other finalists in my category were really strong, so I was completely blown away when they called my name.

“There have been a lot of people involved in taking Torquay United Women forward and it is a dream of mine to play a part. It is my burning passion for women’s football to be taken seriously and that has really started to happen this year.

“First and foremost, I need to be taken seriously in football, and once you get to that stage, it is a lot easier to ensure women’s football is taken seriously. That was my aim, and I think we are getting there.

“The nomination came from things like the team playing at Plainmoor, the women being under the club’s umbrella and pushing the importance of women and girls’ football at Torquay United.

“I am obviously extremely proud to be on the Board of Directors at the club. It has been a really eye-opening experience and a lot more goes on than you realise, and I’ve been involved in football my whole life, just not at this level.

“I have learned so many different things, experienced new challenges and I have found it difficult at times to make that transition. I’m aware that I need to wear multiple hats but also an incredible experience.

“I’m so glad that I put myself forward because it has been life-changing for me. I’m just very grateful to play my role in the club.”