1. Name: Dani Petrovic

(Pictured in action, by Eve Bailey)

2. Age (D.O.B): 26 - 04.05.83

3. Team: Aston Villa

4. Position (and have you always played there)? Centre Midfield, earlier in my career I was a centre half, but somebody saw the light and moved me forward!! Ha ha.

5. Team Supported/Fave player? West Bromwich Albion. Fave player is an ex West Brom player called Richard Sneekes, I loved him as a kid!

6. Occupation/or what you are studying? Firefighter in the West Midlands Fire Service

7. Are there other footballers in your family? No professionals of any sort but my twin cousins play for Sporting Albion Ladies (formerly West Brom), three female footballers in the family!

8. Favourite game you have played in (and why)? Favourite game is when I played for Lindsey Wilson College in my 1st National Championship Final in the U.S. It was in Santa Barbara, in the most amazing setting, the stadium was vitually on the beach! The game went to 7 overtimes, as they dont settle games with penalties over there, which is a record for a college game. I think we played about 150 mins. The game had everything, never experienced anything like it. (We lost, but won it the following year!)

9. Your best attribute as a player? I'd like to think I have a got good understanding and reading of the game.

10. What are your ambitions in football? Well, it's just to do well with Aston Villa, and go as far with them as possible...hopefully promotion to the top flight in the near future, that would be nice!

11. Who has been the biggest influence in or on your footballing career? I would have to say both my mom and dad. Since i was a kid they have supported me and followed me everywhere. They still come and watch now.

12. What is the best thing about playing for your team? My fellow team mates, we have a great bunch of girls with a good blend of youth and experience and a good team morale, both on and off the pitch.

13. If you got to design your team’s kit, what would it look like? Well, we are sponsored by Nike anyway, so that's a good start! Don't think I'd change a lot. We are quite lucky, our kits are nice. Could be really unfortunate and have one that looks like Wolves (being a Baggies fan, that would be my worst nightmare!)

14. Do you listen to music to get you motivated or while you train – if so, what tracks? Yeah we always have a stereo on in the changing rooms, or on the team bus, and it's usually just the latest stuff out in the charts, stuff that gets you pumped up. Although, sometimes the odd soppy track seems to find its way in there, usually courtesy of Natalie Gibson!

15. Who, that plays for your team should we know more about and why? No, one, player in particular but there are a few youngsters coming up that are involved in the England youth squads at U-17,U-19 level, so hopefully next season they will come into the 1st team and make an impact.


Tell us about your match winning goal in the Curzon Ashton v Villa, FA Women’s Cup 5th Round game and any celebrations that followed:

The score was 1-1 and halfway through the 2nd half we got a corner, the ball was whipped in and I just got my head to it and managed to put it out the keeper’s reach.

Well, the goal celebration was just the typical ‘hands in the air running towards the nearest person’ going a little bit crazy! Haha! But then something funny happened, when the game restarted, the match announcer decided to announce to everyone that #5 Kelly Clarke had scored the goal, when in fact, she took the corner and #4 Dani Petrovic (yes, me!) had scored. This was much to the amusement of everyone else, including the ref. I think the announcer got scared of pronouncing my surname!
 

Thanks for kicking back, Dani! We know you felt 'SO honoured' to be asked!

Villa take on Chelsea, this Sunday (21st Feb), at Boldmere St.Michaels FC, in the FA Women's Cup Quarter Finals.