The Shirt With: Everton Ladies Captain Danielle 'Dani' Turner

4th December 2018

The first lady to appear in SportPesa's exclusive series details how she beat the odds to lead her beloved team that she is determined to lift silverware with

Everton FC Ladies captain, Dani Turner in action. PHOTO/Everton FC
Everton FC Ladies captain, Dani Turner in action. PHOTO/Everton FC
SUMMARY
  • Turner, 27, the captain of Everton Ladies FC who has been an England Under 19 and 23 international, is keen on emulating the stalwarts of women football by leading the Blues to silverware
  • While her male counterparts followed a well-established path to realise their dream of pursuing professional football pulling on the coveted shirts at their clubs, defender Turner overcame insurmountable odds to make it in the beautiful game
  • Having scaled the ladder to be a team leader on the pitch, her next ambition is to lift a trophy with her beloved club

NAIROBI, Kenya- Danielle ‘Dani’ Turner, does that name ring a bell? If it does not, it goes to explain why professional women football is not a main staple for fans worldwide.

But that does not mean women football is not evolving and doing its all to match the fanatical following accorded to its male counterparts, with top teams in the world, especially in Europe, establishing and maintaining professional ladies teams.

In the past decade, women football has grown to command a sizeable audience and bred superstars such as Marta from Brazil, Hope Solo, Mia Hamm and Abby Wambach of United States as well as Birgit Prinz of Germany among others sharing the same global stage as the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Turner, 27, the captain of Everton Ladies FC who has been an England Under 19 and 23 international, is keen on emulating the stalwarts of women football by leading the Blues to silverware.

Her inspiring rise from her birthplace of Warrington to a professional footballer and eventually being given the armband at Everton is the kind of fairy tale that sets her apart as the first and only female player to feature in The Shirt.

This is the 10th installment of the exclusive series on SportPesa online platforms that has provided deep insight into what it means to run out with the team jersey of famous England partner clubs, Hull City FC, Southampton FC and of course, Everton.

While her male counterparts followed a well-established path to realise their dream of pursuing professional football pulling on the coveted shirts at their clubs, defender Turner overcame insurmountable odds to make it in the beautiful game.

“When I was growing up football for females was not fully professional. When I played for in my school team there was actually no girl’s team so I was not able to play,” she set off detailing her incredible journey to the Everton armband.

“Luckily, I played for the Manchester United youth team so I had that as well but obviously as a young kid you want to play as much football as you can,” she added.

Turner began her football training at the Everton Ladies Centre of Excellence and in 2012 she secured a loan move with Icelandic side, Stjarnan of the Urvalsdeild kvenna.

Successful stint

The future Everton Ladies captain featured for a successful stint with the Icelandic club who won the Women's Cup and the Super Cup during the 2012 season. 


In 2013, Turner would help Stjarnan win the league, the Icelandic League Cup Women A, and finish as runners-up in the Super Cup.

By the 2013 season, Turner would return to Everton and begin to regularly feature for the Blues. Her efforts earned her a two-year deal with Everton in December 2014.

She explained her decision to re-join the Blues and as it turns out, the club was much closer to her heart.

“Being from Warrington being quite close to Everton Football Club. So every time I put the Everton shirt I wear it with pride and passion,” she explained her devotion to the world famous blue and white kit. 

Deployed as a left wingback, Turner has been a regular for the Blues since signing her deal, scoring her career high seven goals during the 2015 season.

During the fourth round of 2016–17 FA Cup, Turner filled in for the injured Kirstie Levell as goalkeeper and was able to help the Blues past a shootout against Durham in an exhibition of her versatility. 

The victory and performance earned her the Player of the Round honours.

Turner was named team captain ahead of Everton's return to the FA Women's Super League for 2017–18 season, succeeding the departing Michelle Hinnigan.

“You become more comfortable with the role as the time goes on and as the games go on. As a captain, you have to find solutions and drive the team when things are not going your way that is something I thrive on,” she spoke of receiving the weight of the armband.

Being named the captain not only fulfilled a dream she harboured since returning to Everton but it served as the best way to answer her critics.

“I had a lot of struggles to get where I am today. Managers told me I was not good enough; I was not going to make it. But that only motivates me even more to be a professional footballer,” she emphasised.

Having scaled the ladder to be a team leader on the pitch, her next ambition is to lift a trophy with her beloved club.

“The next step for Everton ladies is to start competing for silverware. The last few years I have been in this club we have been there or thereabouts. Been to semi finals or finals and lost. So I know what it is like to experience the lows of football 

“This is a club that is very close to my heart and means an awful lot to me. Every time I wear the shirt, I will give my all to Everton Football Club,” she pledged.