Graham Daniels
{{Short description|Welsh footballer (born 1962)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Graham Daniels
| image = Daniels at CUFC.jpg
| caption =
| fullname = David Graham Daniels
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1962|4|9|df=y}}
| birth_place = Farnborough, England
| height =
| position = Left midfield
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 1979–1982
| clubs1 = Cardiff City
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| years2 = 1983–1985
| clubs2 = Cambridge United
| caps2 =
| goals2 =
| years3 = 1985–1991
| clubs3 = Cambridge City
| caps3 = 199
| goals3 = 48
| totalcaps =
| totalgoals =
| manageryears1 = 1990—1994
| managerclubs1 = Sudbury Town
| manageryears2 = 1994—1996
| managerclubs2 = Histon
| manageryears3 = 1996—1998
| managerclubs3 = Cambridge City
}}
Dr Graham Daniels is a former professional footballer, now the General Director of Christians in Sport.{{Cite web |title=Team {{!}} About |url=https://christiansinsport.org.uk/about/our-team/ |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=Christians in Sport |language=en}} and a director of Cambridge United Football Club.
He also holds associate positions at St Andrew the Great Church {{Cite web |title=our team |url=https://www.stag.org/get-to-know-us/our-team/}} and Ridley Hall Theological College {{Cite web |title=Dr Graham Daniels, Ridley Associate |url=https://www.ridley.cam.ac.uk/about/people/graham-daniels |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=Ridley Hall |language=en}} in Cambridge.
Early life
Daniels grew up in Llanelli, South Wales, and attended Llanelli Boys' Grammar School, where he played rugby and cricket. He was signed by Cardiff City when playing for Wales Schools under 18s.
Playing career
Daniels joined Cardiff City as a schoolboy, then continued playing for the youth and reserve teams alongside studying philosophy at Cardiff University from 1980 to 1983.
After graduating, Daniels rejected contract offers from Cardiff and Bristol Rovers to sign for Cambridge United. During two seasons at the Abbey Stadium, Daniels' team-mates included David Moyes, Andy Sinton and Alan Comfort.{{Cite web |date=1995-11-27 |title=The men who bring God to the squad |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/the-men-who-bring-god-to-the-squad-1583873.html |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=The Independent |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=AN EVENING WITH DAVID MOYES |url=https://www.cambridge-united.co.uk/news/2016/march/-an-evening-with-david-moyes/ |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=www.cambridge-united.co.uk |language=en-gb}}
He left United in 1985 to join neighbours Cambridge City, and stayed with the Lilywhites until 1991.
Managerial roles
At the age of 29, Daniels took up the role of player-coach at Sudbury Town in the Southern League. He became the manager of Histon in the Eastern Counties League in 1994, before returning to manage Cambridge City in 1996, where he remained for three seasons.
After leaving City,{{Cite web |title=Google |url=https://www.google.com/ |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=www.google.com}} Daniels joined Cambridgeshire FA in 2000 as head youth coach and was involved in helping manage local league teams until 2012. He was a member of the Cambridgeshire FA Council between 2013 and 2018.
Football Director
Daniels returned to Cambridge United to inaugurate and chair the Cambridge United Community Trust in 2010. The Trust has had a significant impact on the city{{Cite web |title=Community Podcast - Clip 3 {{!}} COMMUNITY PODCAST (CLIP 3): Graham Daniels, Chair of Cambridge United Community Trust, speaks about food, phone calls and fitness with Simon Wall, CUCT's... {{!}} By Cambridge United Foundation {{!}} Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/CUFCFoundation/videos/community-podcast-clip-3/607779256747418/ |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2019-05-10 |title=Pictures from the Cambridge United Community Trust gala dinner at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford |url=https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/sport/pictures-from-the-cambridge-united-community-trust-gala-dinner-at-the-imperial-war-museum-in-duxford-9069530/ |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=Cambridge Independent |language=en}}
and has earned recognition at local{{Cite web |last= |date=2021-03-31 |title=Cambridge United have 'equally powerful ambition' to thrive off the pitch |url=https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/cambridge-united-have-equally-powerful-ambition-to-thrive-off-the-pitch/ |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=InYourArea.co.uk}} and national level,{{Cite web |title=Sport Archives |url=https://www.efltrust.com/category/news/sport/ |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=EFL Trust |language=en-GB}} in particular in relation to mental health issues.{{Cite web |last=Trust |first=E. F. L. |date=2018-05-18 |title=Cambridge United establish school mental health project 'Mind Your Head' |url=https://www.efltrust.com/cambridge-united-establish-school-mental-health-project-mind-your-head/ |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=EFL Trust |language=en-GB}}
Daniels joined the club's main board in September 2013. When Paul Barry purchased the club, he seconded Daniels to become Director of Football from 2017 to 2020.{{Cite web |last=Georgeson |first=Andrew |date=2018-02-28 |title=Graham Daniels discusses his and Ben Strang's new titles at Cambridge United |url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/sport/graham-daniels-discusses-ben-strangs-14351413 |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=CambridgeshireLive |language=en}} Daniels helped guide the club through a turbulent time on and off the pitch,{{Cite web |last=Georgeson |first=Andrew |date=2017-12-18 |title=What are the key talking points from Cambridge United's statement |url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/sport/board-changes-shaun-derry-jez-14052290 |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=CambridgeshireLive |language=en}} and worked alongside Ben Strang, who was appointed Head of Football, to develop a long-term leadership and management strategy.
During this period, Cambridge United went through a rebuilding phase, strengthening its board and building a structure on the playing side which led to Mark Bonner becoming head coach in 2020. At that point, Strang was promoted to Sporting Director and Daniels stepped back from the Director of Football role{{Cite web |last=Georgeson |first=Andrew |date=2020-03-10 |title=Changes coming for Cambridge Utd as director of football leaves role |url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/sport/graham-daniels-steps-back-director-17897086 |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=CambridgeshireLive |language=en}} to return to his previous, non-executive role on the board{{Cite web |last=Page |first=Stephen |date=2021-04-01 |title='No way' U's should be top of League Two with level of resources, says Daniels |url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/graham-daniels-believes-theres-no-20298445 |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=CambridgeshireLive |language=en}} as the U's went on to win promotion to League One in 2021.{{Cite web |last=Page |first=Stephen |date=2021-05-18 |title=The story behind Cambridge United's promotion success |url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/how-cambridge-united-secured-promotion-20617323 |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=CambridgeshireLive |language=en}}
When Cambridge United created a women's team board in 2022, Daniels became an inaugural member{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-05-31 |title=Cambridge United to create new women's football board |url=https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/sport/cambridge-united-to-create-new-women-s-football-board-9256923/ |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=Cambridge Independent |language=en}}
Christians in Sport
Daniels became a Christian during his playing career at Cambridge United{{Cite web |date=2020-05-29 |title='Faith has a place in professional football' |url=https://www.christian.org.uk/news/faith-has-a-place-in-professional-football/ |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=www.christian.org.uk |language=en-GB}} and moved to Cambridge City in order to combine his football career with theological studies at the University of London and Tyndale House (Cambridge) between 1985 and 1989.
On completing his training for Christian ministry, Daniels joined the staff of Christians in Sport in 1989 and was appointed General Director in April 2002.
In light of his experience in combining the Christian faith with professional football, Daniels has published two popular books explaining the relationship between Christianity and Sport - Born to Play{{Cite web |title=Born to Play |url=https://shop.christiansinsport.com/products/born-to-play |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=Christians in Sport |language=en}} and My Mate's Gone Mad.{{Cite web |last=www.thoughtcollective.com |first=Thought Collective |title=My Mate's Gone Mad by Graham Daniels |url=https://www.10ofthose.com/uk/products/21773/my-mates-gone-mad |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=10ofthose.com}}
The growing cultural interest in mental health led Daniels to explore the relationship between Christian faith and athletic well-being. In 2020 he published a joint paper on 'Sports Chaplaincy, Theology and Social Theory Disrupting Performance-Based Identity in Elite Sporting Contexts'. Daniels gained a PhD for his thesis entitled 'Identity Formation in Christian Professional Footballers' from the University of Gloucestershire{{Cite web |date=2021-11-02 |title=Graham embarks on PhD at 53 - Student stories - University of Gloucestershire |url=https://www.glos.ac.uk/courses/story/graham-embarks-on-phd-at-53/ |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=www.glos.ac.uk |language=en-GB}} in 2022 and was appointed Associate of Ridley Hall Theological College, Cambridge.
In the summer of 2023, a 14-year-old girl died at an event organised by Christians in Sport, held at Repton School.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-21 |title=Girl, 14, dies after falling ill at Christian sports camp |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23735644.girl-14-dies-sports-camp-run-bicester-organisation/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Oxford Mail |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-08-17 |title=Girl, 14, dies after falling ill at top UK private school sports camp |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/girl-dead-repton-school-derbyshire-b2394582.html |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=The Independent |language=en}}https://www.itv.com/news/central/2023-08-17/girl-14-dies-after-falling-ill-at-derbyshire-summer-camp-at-repton-school
Public speaking
Daniels has been a regular speaker at St Andrew the Great Church, Cambridge since October 2000 {{Cite web |last=Butler |first=David |title=Graham Daniels talks at St Andrew the Great |url=https://www.crosspreach.com/speaker/3262/graham_daniels |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=www.crosspreach.com |language=en}} and frequently hosts the Christians in Sport podcast.
He has spoken widely about the themes of faith and sport on mainstream media channels including Sky Sports,{{Cite web |title=Christians in Sport CEO Graham Daniels on Sky Sports News {{!}} Huge thanks to Sky Sport News HD for featuring how Christians in Sport are supporting sportspeople around the country during the coronavirus crisis.... {{!}} By Jersey Road PR {{!}} Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/JerseyRoad/videos/christians-in-sport-ceo-graham-daniels-on-sky-sports-news/2694181104023858/ |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}} Talksport,{{Citation |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nPF1NRdI1Y | title=Danno speaks with TalkSport during the Covid-19 pandemic }} the BBC{{Cite web |title=BBC One - Songs of Praise, Faith and Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000lj97 |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}} and in podcast interviews.{{Citation |title=Real Lives with Graham Daniels - the Director of Football |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijdm414--xU |access-date=2023-05-23 |language=en}}
Personal life
Daniels is married to Michelle. They have three children and five grandchildren.
References
{{reflist}}
{{|url=https://www.youtube.com/c/ChristiansInSportUK?app=desktop}}
{{|url=https://www.apassionforlife.org.uk/episode-9-the-lord-is-the-lord-of-the-harvest-not-me}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Daniels, Graham}}
Category:Alumni of the University of Gloucestershire
Category:Cambridge City F.C. managers
Category:Cambridge City F.C. players
Category:Cambridge United F.C. players
Category:Footballers from Llanelli
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Men's association football fullbacks
Category:Welsh football managers
Category:Welsh men's footballers