Trojans hockey starlet Alex Danson was pipped to the inaugural BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award by teenage sprint ace Amy Spencer.

But there wasn't a tinge of disappointment from the 16-year old England women's international.

"I didn't expect to win the award and, anyway, the real prize was getting there," she said.

"Going to the awards ceremony alongside so many celebrities was just fantastic and something I'll remember for the rest of my life.

"Meeting David Beckham (the overall sports award winner) and getting his autograph was simply amazing," she said.

Danson, the youngest ever hockey player to be picked by England, was one of the three finalists drawn from 600 nominees for the Young Sportsman award.

Her place in the last three was confirmed when she appeared on BBC television's Blue Peter programme last Friday night.

"I didn't tell any of my school chums about appearing on Blue Peter or going to Sunday night's awards ceremony," she said.

"And it was all very embarassing when I turned up for school on Monday - millions had seen me, including everyone in my class !"

Danson, who is in England's 28-player squad for next year's Commonwealth Games in Manchester, said that appearing on a live television show was far more nerve wracking than making her recent England debut in Germany.

"My knees shook when the three of us walked into the threatre. The arc lights were almost blinding and the place was just a sea of faces - all glaring at us !

"Steve Rider and Sue Barker, who co-presented the show, were really marvellous and calmed us down."

Millions of television viewers caught a glimpse of Danson's goal scoring prowess - a splendidly taken goal for England Under-21's earlier in the year.

"I could do with scoring a few of them for Trojans after Christmas," she added.