When defender Matt Danskin steps out on Saturday afternoon to face Perth Glory at Intiga Stadium it will herald the end of a remarkable career. Danskin has packed a lot of football into his 29-year olds, from playing juniors with Forrestfield United to representing Australia at youth team level. That journey has also included two seasons with German club Werder Breman and a starring role on the local stage with Fremantle City, Perth SC and Inglewood United, the versatile right-sided player basing himself at the latter for the past couple of years.
Having played football since he was five, Danskin says hanging up his boots was the hardest decision of his life. “When you give away something you have loved all your life, something which has given you your identity, has been the basis of nearly every decision you have made, that’s tough,” he said. “I’ve always set myself a standard and pushed myself to become a better player, but now my body won’t do what I want it to do. I’ve played only about 50% of games over the last three seasons and that tells me I’m no longer able to perform the way I want and expect.”
Danskin started out at Forrestfield and progressed to senior ranks with Fremantle before being spotted by scouts from Werder Bremen. “They invited me over for a trial and on the last day was handed a file with a contract in it – that day changed my life,” commented Danskin, who was only 16 when he headed abroad. “But my dream turned into a nightmare. I was alone and isolated with no support program and that sent me down a dark road of depression. As bad as it was, I wouldn’t change a thing because those experiences made me the person I am today.”
While things didn’t go according to plan in Germany, it did lead to Danskin getting the opportunity to achieve another of his dreams – to represent Australia. “Being selected for your county, putting on that shirt with the coat of arms on it eclipses any feeling I’ve ever had … it is something I’ll never forget,” said Danskin, who toured South America with the Young Socceroos in late 2004. “South America is an unbelievable place, they live and breathe football. Everything about that tour – how we were treated, where we stayed, trained and played – epitomized what it is to represent your country.”
On returning home he linked up with Perth. “They are biggest club in the State and the success we achieved is unrivalled to this day,” said Danskin, who played at the club for eight years. “The team ethos, culture and comradery was unbelievable. Some of the training sessions were so intense, the football so good, it was unbelievable. If other clubs could have seen what it was like during that period they would know why we were the best. Perth was an amazing club and Dorrien Gardens felt like home … I never wanted to leave.”
Danskin switched to Inglewood two years ago and admits his disappointment at not achieving more with the club. “I came to Inglewood with the aim of helping build a strong team and a strong club,” he explained. “But it takes more than a great coach and a core group of good players. The squad players, the youth players, they need to buy in also and do everything it takes to be the best they can, but we just haven’t had that. We’ve had too many players who roll up at training and to the game and call themselves a player – it doesn’t work like that, that’s mediocrity.”
Danskin recognises walking away from the game he loves will leave a big hole in his life. “I’ll miss the mateship, the comradery, the banter and the game in general. The battle at 3pm on a Saturday will be something I’ll miss. That time every week when, no matter what’s going on in your life, it’s Saturday and that means football day and nothing else matters,” he said. “I’d like to be remembered as someone who was 100% committed, who gave everything he could for his team mates. But also as someone could play, who could make a pass not many people could make.”
With retirement just 90 minutes away, Danskin is content with where football has taken him and he has achieved. “My birthday wish as a child was always to get a contract at a professional club and to play for Australia. I did both of those, I just forgot to wish for a bit more longevity, but I’m happy with what I’ve achieved,” said Danskin, whose focus next year will be on building a tavern – Tall Timbers – in Manjimup. “Retirement is not a decision I’ve made lightly, I love the game and I love playing it. But the body is done … when your body won’t let you play, you simply can’t.”
