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She was the 10-year-old girl who “tagged along” when her brother and dad turned out for their local team in Yorkshire.
But tomorrow, Rachel Daly could be lifting the World Cup for England.
Her late father, Martyn, was a former semi-pro. He helped start the first girls’ team at Killinghall Nomads Juniors FC in Harrogate.
It was seeing him and brother Andy practise that inspired Rachel to take up football.
She started in mixed sides but Martyn was determined they should have a girls’ team.
He was her biggest fan and was alongside her when the Aston Villa star took her first steps along the road to success.
But he died suddenly in September 2021.
After scoring in the 6-1 World Cup group stage win over China, her heartwarming celebration of kissing a wristband with the word “DAD” on it caused an emotional response.
“When I get on the pitch, it’s not just about me performing, it’s me performing to make my dad even more proud than he already was,” Rachel said.
The versatile 31-year-old, who can play in defence, midfield, and attack, started off at her beloved Leeds United before moving across the Atlantic to join Houston Dash.
She spent the best part of a decade playing mainly in the US.
She returned to England on a loan deal to West Ham in September 2020 before signing a three-year deal with Villa.
But Rachel never forgets where it all began and often pops in to see old pals at Killinghall, where the club cafe, Daly Brew, is named in her honour.
Club spokeswoman Mary Beggs-Reid said: “It’s funny seeing old pics of the team. Back then it’s hard to believe she knew one day she would be putting on a real shirt.”
Martyn and Andy both played for the Nomads and Rachel would “tag along”.
A few volunteers who coached Rachel remain with the club and they remember her as a “talented young girl who loved football”. Mary said: “The club was only founded in 1984, and for years we had no girls’ team.
“But when the girls wanted to carry on playing beyond the mixed age group, Martyn and some of the other dads decided they would start one.
“Now Rachel – and the rest of the Lionesses’ success – have completely changed girls’ football. We got teams at all age groups coming through and recently started up a women’s team called Killinghall No-mans!
“I can’t imagine what will happen if they win the World Cup.
“It will go bonkers!”
Mary said Rachel remained “a massive supporter” of the grassroots club. “She nourishes the talent that we have, and she invited all the girls to St George’s Park when it was the Euros,” she added.
“She still keeps in contact with the club.
“We’re super proud of her, she is humble and kind, even though she’s a massive superstar. Both club and town are immensely proud of our homegrown talent.
“She’s made young girls dream and believe that one day they could become football stars playing for their country.”
Rachel acknowledges her success would not have been possible without her parents’ support.
Andy and stepdad Jim have also played vital roles.
Her mother, Louise, has been at most of Rachel’s England games, but she’ll be 11,000 miles away when the final kicks off at 11am.
A family friend said: “Louise has been invited to a hotel to watch the game, but she said she’s too nervous to watch it with everyone else.
“She said she’s going to stay home and watch it with the rest of Rachel’s family. I don’t blame her, I’d be a bag of nerves too!”
