England’s most capped female hockey player Alex Danson believes female sporting events on free to-air-television will encourage young girls to become active.

Earlier this week, culture secretary Nicky Morgan called for major women’s sporting events to be on free-to-air TV and added to the list of "crown jewel" events.

Danson said: “Our hockey is fantastically supported, often by BT sport and then by BBC red button and the viewing figures are huge.

“Now if we can get women’s sport on free to watch TV then it will make our young girls see it, will keep us healthier and more active.”

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During the final days of the FIH Pro League earlier this year, England had the opportunity to play at the Twickenham Stoop. The event was a near sell-out as the first pop-up pitch was brought to London.

“I truly believe you cannot be what you cannot see.” The 34-year-old said that as a child she “didn’t see anything else apart from tennis as female sports stars".

England women will host Chile in the Olympic qualifiers at Lee Valley on November 3.