Danny Houghton has reflected on the support his mum gave him through his childhood when his rugby league journey got underway.
Ahead of Friday’s Women In League fixture against Wakefield Trinity at the MKM Stadium, hullfc.com caught up with the Black & Whites’ hooker, who has a particularly strong relationship with his mum, Fiona.
Houghton, who has made over 400 appearances for his hometown club, often takes a mental trip down memory lane and reflects on his very first steps on a rugby league field for Bransholme Bulldogs.
But influential in first getting him involved with the sport was his mother.
“My mum was the first person to take me down to a rugby league session,” he told hullfc.com.
“Even though my dad ran the team at first, it was my mum who took me. She used to take me to training and games whenever she could, and I’m forever grateful to her for that.
“She even used to take me to Yorkshire camps across the country and she would drop anything at an instant to help me out, so I do reflect on it well.
“Parents are there to guide you through your childhood and it just so happened that mine led me down the rugby league pathway into playing this sport.
“I know a lot of mothers have the strongest bonds with their sons and that’s certainly the case with myself and my mum. A lot of that comes from the support that she gave me throughout my childhood growing up.”
He added: “It makes me appreciate the feeling a bit more now that I’m a parent myself. There’s nothing I’d love more than to see my lad run out for his hometown club one day.”
His mum isn’t the only important woman in his life. He also holds his wife close to his heart, with whom he has three children.
For somebody that has seen it all in rugby league, with over a decade of experience under his belt, Houghton appreciates the role his wife plays in helping him relax whilst he is at home.
“I actually think a lot of people forget about that. I know that not every player has a partner or is married, but it’s one of the things that is easily forgotten,” he said.
“They have to be understanding of your situation as an athlete and that means being out the house for unsociable hours when training starts early or we’ve got a long away trip.
“I think the good thing with my partner is she’s pretty distant from everything. Even though she supports me in what I do, she doesn’t put me under any pressure regarding rugby, which is good for when I need to switch off at home when I’m around the kids.”
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