Aston Villa’s Kirsty Hanson: ‘Dementia impacts so many people. It’s nice to connect with fans on a deeper level’ | Aston Villa Women

Hugo is excited. He has not been out for a walk yet and is joining the on-the-go interview with his owner, the Aston Villa forward Kirsty Hanson. We are strolling around the park near the 26-year-old’s house. Hugo may be bouncing, and greeting as many dogs as he can, but our starting topic is less joyful. I have joined Hanson on a particularly crisp day in the Midlands as she takes part in Dementia UK’s Walk 1k a Day in February challenge. Hanson’s reason for taking part in the campaign was explained in three words on social media as she promoted her participation: “For my Gran.”

“My granny was diagnosed in 2022,” says Hanson, as we veer off a path and on to the grass. “I thought it was such a good issue to campaign for. I also thought it would be good for my family.

“I feel quite helpless, as a granddaughter, sometimes because I don’t see her that often and I don’t speak to her that often. Most of the time she’ll probably forget that I’ve phoned, she’s also getting a bit deaf so it’s hard to call her anyway and she’s not great with technology.”

There is an emotional toll on those with family members struggling with dementia. As they lose their memory it becomes harder to pick up the phone and make the call. Who is it for? Is it for them? Is it for you? If it confuses them and is painful for you, is it worth it?

“It’s quite a repetitive conversation, which doesn’t help either,” says Hanson. “My granny used to be so independent and she’s a totally different person now. That’s sad and hard to see. My grandad used to do everything for her, but he died a few years ago. Since then, she’s just really deteriorated and then the diagnosis arrived in 2022.”

The walking is her way of doing something meaningful; for her mum, for herself and for her gran. Walking 1km a day may not seem like a lot, particularly for an elite athlete, but finding a fundraising effort that can fit comfortably around the demands of being a professional footballer can be difficult – and that is why this challenge worked.

“It’s hard to be able to do something, especially something physical, around football,” says Hanson. “I saw this one and I was like: ‘Oh, that’s so ideal’. You’ve got to balance what you take part in with your training and rest days and things, so you can’t do anything too strenuous.”

Being forced to get out every day and make it happen, regardless of how exhausted she is after training, has been a blessing in disguise. She uses the time out in the fresh air to think about her grandmother and to remember to check in with her mum on how she is doing but also to get her own thoughts in order generally. “It’s been quite good mentally, in that sense,” she says. “I do like exercise and once I’m out, I’m glad. Walking without an end point reminds you to slow down, that you need to enjoy life a bit more and live in the moment. As you get older the possibility of dementia and other disorders come into play and taking the time to remember and think about what’s important in life feels good.”

In addition to the boost the campaign has given her and her family, she has been touched by the impact on fans too. “You don’t realise how many followers you have until you try and raise awareness for things like this,” she says. “People appreciate it. Fans maybe just see you as a footballer, but once you touch on a cause like this it becomes obviously quite personal. Dementia is something that impacts so many people and it is nice to be able to connect with fans on a deeper and very human level.”

In an age where social media, a connector between players and fans, can be increasingly toxic, that is a refreshing thing. “It a reminder in some ways that we have got normal families too, we struggle as well and it’s good to show we’re not afraid to hide it.”

Hugo, the star of this scene, who is being petted by her grandmother on her JustGiving page, is getting restless by now, and slightly reluctant to loop back on paths we have already been down, so we move on to the topic of football.

Aston Villa’s season has been a rough one – the team are on their third manager in less than a year and they are 11th in the WSL, four points above bottom side Crystal Palace. When we meet, they had just recorded an impressive 3-2 win over Brighton but the following week suffered a bruising 3-0 loss to Leicester before the international break.

Hanson is hopeful ,though. “We’ve obviously had two manager changes, so it’s been difficult, but I think we’ve got quite a tight-knit group,” she says. “So far, Natalia [Arroyo, the new manager] is a really good coach. She provides so much detail. From the day she came in she was really clear with her expectations and the way she wants us to play and the way she’s got us playing really suits our players. She wants to play forward, she wants to play attacking football, she wants to high press, and that really works for our team.”

Hugo has really had enough now but I quickly ask Hanson about her own form, how she is feeling in herself and if there is anything she is trying to add to her game. “I still don’t believe I’m a good player, but a lot of managers tell me that it’s not just my work on the ball that keeps me in the team, it’s the work I do off the ball. They say that once you take me out of the team, that presence, you can tell it’s missing,” she says in a remarkably modest assessment of herself.

“I might not get an assist and maybe I don’t score as many goals, but I think I do help the team get forward, get those turnovers and win the ball higher up the pitch. I’m just a team player. I probably don’t shoot enough, but I am trying to add that to my game.”

We head back towards Hanson’s house, Hugo only partly entertaining the pause for some photos. Hanson’s modesty is perhaps why she has not pushed her JustGiving hard, but she is doing something powerful.