To celebrate International women’s day today , Lionesses First Team player and Millwall Community Trust coach Danielle Correa discusses her role at the Trust.
Danielle can you give us your football journey ?
Well my football journey started off when I was probably 5-6 and I grew up playing with just boys . I grew with many boys and the mentally of girls not being good enough so I was always picked on for be the girl who played football. However being in love with the sport I really did not look at it as something to bring me down but to strive, this is over the years of developing in football. Then from the age of 14+ I started playing with girls more and then found a few Sunday league teams, until I ended up back with a boys team. ( sporting Lisbon’s youth academy) then I ended up leaving due to lack of encouragement and motivation with me as I was yet to be the only girl. Thankful right after I left I had been selected to be in the u16s AFC Wimbledon girls squad. I was with AFC for one season until I was released then played here and there unfortunately until I was badly injured which my ankles then became a massive effect in my journey making me on and off football for a one year and a half. Then I got selected for the Lionesses and now with them for two seasons as I continue to progress with my squad. I hope to make my mark someday especially as it’s the first to see something, also supporting me after a long injury.
What is your role at the community Trust?
Well I’ve probably been with the community trust for three and a half years now. I started off as student in the college programme and collectively I progressed to become part of the coaching team. My role as a female coach is being able to help all of our younger students especially to set an example to younger females to want to pursue something for their future with all the support given, whilst also enjoying themselves in the sport industry.
Celebrating international women’s day who inspire you when growing up?
An inspiring women who I looked upon was Selena Quintanilla who was a young singer who demonstrated so much to young females. One of her quotes that always sticks with me “the goal isn’t to live forever but to creat something that will,” meaning that something is created it showed live on to help inspire and motivate others. I will always look at as a goal to want to build something for myself for others to look at it as an example.
What are your future plans?
My future plans is to build something for myself such as being able to set an example to others, to then be looked as an inspiring person to those others. Also I want pursue a career in football as it’s my passion from young, along with this is also become a great coach to educate younger people what I know. I also plan to learn and rise with Millwall as they have offered and given me a lot, so I know that I can carry on to grow with them.
