Alex Danson

{{Infobox field hockey player

| name = Alex Danson
MBE

| image = World Hockey League Semi Final 2013 (9170464955).jpg

| caption = Danson in 2013

| full_name = Alexandra Mary Louise Danson-Bennett

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|5|21|df=y}}

| birth_place = Southampton, Hampshire, England

| height = 1.65 m

| weight = 56 kg

| position = Forward

| nationalyears1 = 2001–2018

| nationalteam1 = England

| nationalcaps1 = 203

| nationalgoals1 = 62

| nationalyears2 = 2010–2018

| nationalteam2 = Great Britain

| nationalcaps2 = 103

| nationalgoals2 = 53

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry|{{GBR2}}}}

{{MedalCountry|{{ENG}}}}

}}

Alexandra Mary Louise "Alex" Danson (born 21 May 1985) is a retired English international hockey player who played as a forward for England and Great Britain.{{Cite web |url=http://www.greatbritainhockey.co.uk/player.asp?itemid=101&itemTitle=Alex+Danson§ion=1091 |title=Alex Danson - GB Hockey |access-date=21 February 2020 |archive-date=8 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008012842/http://www.greatbritainhockey.co.uk/player.asp?itemid=101&itemTitle=Alex+Danson§ion=1091 |url-status=dead }} She played club hockey for Clifton Robinsons, Reading, Klein Zwitserland, Trojans and [http://www.altonhockeyclub.co.uk Alton].

Danson attended two independent schools, Yateley Manor Prep School and Farnborough Hill School, a Roman Catholic school for girls. Farnborough Hill School named their all-weather hockey pitch in her honour.{{cite web|title=Alex Danson Pitch opened|url=http://www.farnborough-hill.org.uk/SW-Test-Post|website=Farnborough Hill School|access-date=21 July 2017}} She made her full international debut on 23 October 2001 against Germany. She won a gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games and a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympic Games.{{cite Sports-Reference |title=Alex Danson |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/da/alex-danson-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417235927/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/da/alex-danson-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 April 2020 |access-date=12 November 2015}}[http://www.greatbritainhockey.co.uk/player.asp?itemid=101&itemTitle=Alex%20Danson§ion=1091 Alex Danson profile] GB Hockey. Retrieved 4 June 2014.

Danson was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to hockey.{{London Gazette|issue=61803 |supp=y|page=N17|date=31 December 2016}} Later that year Danson was announced as the England Women's Hockey Captain in June 2017{{cite news|title=Alex Danson named England women's hockey captain|publisher=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/hockey/40221082|access-date=21 July 2017}} and led the team through to the last four in the semi-finals of the world league.{{cite web|title=Women's Hockey World League Semi-Finals: England lose to USA in semi-final|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/hockey/40674532|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=21 July 2017}} Also in 2017, Danson launched the Alex Danson Hockey Academy, aimed at introducing young children to the sport through their schools to increase awareness and participation in hockey at a grassroots level.{{cite news|title=Alex Danson: Olympic gold medallist's hockey academy targets 10,000 children|publisher=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/get-inspired/40417406|access-date=21 July 2017}}

She played her last international match on 2 August 2018, against the Netherlands.

It was her 306th appearance for England and Great Britain.{{Cite web|url=https://tms.fih.ch/people/532|title = International Hockey Federation}} Danson announced her retirement from playing hockey on 20 February 2020.http://www.greatbritainhockey.co.uk/news.asp?itemid=48933&itemTitle=Alex+Danson%2DBennett+announces+her+retirement+from+hockey§ion=1044&dm_i=K8Z,6QT2T,3D8XWY,QY5YS,1 {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/hockey/51552077|title = Britain's Danson-Bennett retires from hockey|publisher = BBC Sport}}

Honours and awards

=Honours=

;Representing Great Britain

Olympic Games

2016 Rio de Janeiro: Gold
2012 London: Bronze

FIH Champions Trophy

2012 Rosario: Silver

;Representing England

EuroHockey Nations Championship

2015 London: Gold
2013 Boom: Silver
2011 Monchengladbach: Bronze
2009 Amstelveen: Bronze
2007 Manchester: Bronze
2005 Dublin: Bronze

Commonwealth Games

2014 Glasgow: Silver
2010 Delhi: Bronze
2006 Melbourne: Bronze

World Cup

2010 Rosario: Bronze

FIH Champions Trophy

2010 Nottingham: Bronze

FIH Champions Challenge I

2007 Baku: Bronze
2002 Johannesburg: Gold

;Country

London Cup Winner: 2012[http://www.readinghockeyclub.org.uk/news/articles/5467/ Passing The Test] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606221457/http://www.readinghockeyclub.org.uk/news/articles/5467/ |date=6 June 2014 }} Reading Hockey Club. 7 May 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
London Cup Third-place: 2011[http://fieldhockeytv.com/international/2011/10/16/the-london-cup-2011.html London Cup 2011] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606212348/http://fieldhockeytv.com/international/2011/10/16/the-london-cup-2011.html |date=6 June 2014 }} Field Hockey TV. 16 October 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2014.

;Reading Hockey Club

EuroHockey Club Champions Trophy Winners: 2013[http://www.readinghockeyclub.org.uk/news/articles/7142/ Ladies 1s off to Europe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606232034/http://www.readinghockeyclub.org.uk/news/articles/7142/ |date=6 June 2014 }} Reading Hockey Club. 16 May 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2014.[http://www.readinghockeyclub.org.uk/news/articles/7163/ Treble-tastic!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020135028/http://www.readinghockeyclub.org.uk/news/articles/7163/ |date=20 October 2013 }} Reading Hockey Club. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
EuroHockey Indoor Club Trophy Runners-up: 2014{{cite web | url=http://www.englandhockey.co.uk/news.asp?itemid=26955&itemTitle=Reading+women+promoted+to+EuroHockey+top+flight§ion=22 | title=Reading women promoted to EuroHockey top flight | publisher=EH | date=24 February 2014 | access-date=12 August 2015}}
Women's England Hockey League Winners: 2010–11,{{cite web | url=http://www.englandhockey.co.uk/news.asp?itemid=9904&itemTitle=Watch+highlights+of+this+weekend%27s+championships§ion=22 | title=Watch highlights of this weekend's championships | publisher=EH | date=11 April 2011 | access-date=13 August 2016}} 2012–13;{{cite web | url=http://www.englandhockey.co.uk/news.asp?itemid=22167&itemTitle=Reading+crowned+Investec+Champions§ion=22 | title=Reading crowned Investec Champions | publisher=EH | date=21 April 2013 | access-date=13 August 2016}} Runners-up: 2011–12{{cite web | url=http://www.englandhockey.co.uk/news.asp?itemid=16175&itemTitle=Investec+Finals+Weekend+-+Day+Two§ion=22 | title=Investec Finals Weekend - Day Two | publisher=EH | date=15 April 2012 | access-date=13 August 2016}}
English Indoor Championship Winners: 2012–13,{{cite web | url=http://www.englandhockey.co.uk/news.asp?itemid=20853&itemTitle=Reading+crowned+Maxifuel+Super+Sixes+Champions§ion=22 | title=Reading crowned Maxifuel Super Sixes Champions | publisher=EH | date=27 January 2013 | access-date=12 August 2015}} 2013–14;{{cite web | url=http://www.englandhockey.co.uk/news.asp?itemid=26782&itemTitle=Reading+crowned+Maxinutrition+Hockey5s+Champs§ion=22 | title=Reading crowned Maxinutrition Hockey5s Champs | publisher=EH | date=2 February 2014 | access-date=12 August 2015}} Runners-up: 2010–11,{{cite web | url=http://www.englandhockey.co.uk/news.asp?itemid=9589&itemTitle=super+sixes+Finals+2011§ion=22 | title=Super Sixes Finals 2011 | publisher=EH | date=30 January 2011 | access-date=13 August 2015}} 2011–12{{cite web | url=http://www.englandhockey.co.uk/news.asp?itemid=11390&itemTitle=Leicester+Ladies+crowned+Maxifuel+Super+Sixes+Finals+Champions§ion=22 | title=Leicester Ladies crowned Maxifuel Super Sixes Finals Champions | publisher=EH | date=29 January 2012 | access-date=12 August 2015}}
English League (regular season) Winners: 2011–12{{cite web | url=http://www.englandhockey.co.uk/news.asp?itemid=15987&itemTitle=Reading+seal+Slough%27s+fate§ion=22 | title=Reading seal Slough's fate | publisher=EH | date=24 March 2012 | access-date=13 August 2016}}
English Indoor League (regular season) Third-place: 2013–14{{cite web | url=http://www.englandhockey.co.uk/news.asp?itemid=26625&itemTitle=Bowdon+take+top+spot+from+Slough+in+women%27s+Premier+Division§ion=22 | title=Bowdon take top spot from Slough in women's Premier Division | publisher=EH | date=5 January 2014 | access-date=12 August 2015}}

=Awards and nominations=

2001 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Young Personality (runner-up)
2011 FIH World All Star Team{{cite web | url=http://www.englandhockey.co.uk/news.asp?itemid=11278&itemTitle=Richardson+and+Danson+World+All+Stars§ion=22 | title=Richardson and Danson World All Stars | publisher=EH | date=23 December 2011 | access-date=13 August 2015}}
2011 Reading Sports Personality of Year[http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/hockey/reading-hockeys-award-winning-alex-danson-4299407 Great week continues for Alex] Get Record. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
2011 UK Female Player of the Year (Hockey Writers' Club){{cite web | url=http://www.englandhockey.co.uk/news.asp?itemid=11347&itemTitle=Danson%2C+Pearn+are+Hockey+Writers%27+Players+of+the+Year§ion=22 | title=Danson, Pearn are Hockey Writers' Players of the Year | publisher=EH | date=19 January 2012 | access-date=12 August 2015}}
2011–12 Premier League Player of the Season[http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/hockey/double-award-readings-alex-danson-4299539 Double Award for Alex Danson] Get Reading. 20 April 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
2011–12 Premier League Top Scorer
2011–12 Premier League All Star Team
2012 UK Female Player of the Year (Hockey Writers' Club) (runner-up){{cite web | url=http://www.englandhockey.co.uk/news.asp?itemid=20810&itemTitle=Captains+pick+up+Player+of+the+Year+Awards§ion=22 | title=Captains pick up Player of the Year Awards | publisher=EH | date=23 January 2013 | access-date=12 August 2015}}
2012 London Cup Player of the Tournament[http://www.readinghockeyclub.org.uk/news/articles/6512/ Reading Players Honoured] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606234003/http://www.readinghockeyclub.org.uk/news/articles/6512/ |date=6 June 2014 }} Reading HC. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
2014–15 FIH Hockey World League Semi-finals Player of the Tournament{{cite web | url=http://www.fih.ch/news/hockey-stars-2015-player-of-the-year-nominees/ | title=Hockey Stars 2015 Player of the Year nominees | publisher=FIH | date=8 January 2016 | access-date=25 August 2016}}
2015 EuroHockey Nations Championship Player of the Tournament
2015 Committee Award (Sports Journalists' Association){{cite web | url=http://www.sportsjournalists.co.uk/awards-news/davis-cup-takes-team-title-as-athletes-are-on-track/ | title=Davis Cup's team title as athletes are on track | publisher=SJA | date=17 December 2015 | access-date=20 December 2015}}
2015 Sportswoman of the Year (Sports Journalists' Association) (4th place)
2015 UK Female Player of the Year (Hockey Writers' Club) (third-place){{cite web | url=http://www.englandhockey.co.uk/news.asp?itemid=34334&itemTitle=Lewers+and+Hinch+scoop+Hockey+Writers%27+Prizes§ion=22 | title=Lewers and Hinch scoop Hockey Writers' Prizes | publisher=EH | date=20 January 2016 | access-date=12 August 2015}}
2015 FIH Women's Player of the Year (International Hockey Federation) (nominated)

References

External links

{{sports links}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20180822215346/https://www.greatbritainhockey.co.uk/player.asp?itemid=101&itemTitle=Alex%20Danson§ion=1091 Alex Danson] at Great Britain Hockey (archived)
{{Team England|alex-danson|Alex Danson}}

{{Navboxes

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