Hamptons rise to England goalkeeper
- BBC News
Hamptons rise to England goalkeeper
Born with a serious eye condition, England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton was told by doctors she should not play football.
The 24-year-old has had multiple operations to try and correct her vision but it is not perfect and she still has depth perception issues.
It is remarkable she has defied the odds and is now at Euro 2025 as Englands number one.
"Ive always gone through life trying to prove people wrong," Hampton said.
"I was told from a young age that I couldnt play football, that it wouldnt be a profession I could pursue. But here I am."
Hampton has been used to setbacks and her career has been far from smooth.
She was dropped by England months after being part of the winning Euro 2022 squad.
She was forced to prove herself again and has bounced back and risen to the top. This is the story of her journey.
When Carla Ward arrived at Birmingham City as their new manager in 2020 she had already heard about teenager Hampton.
"We spoke on the first day. I wanted to know where she wanted to be," Ward told BBC Sport.
"She was an endearing character, as well as being a livewire, like most goalkeepers. But she articulated things in a way that was far more mature than her age.
"It was on day two that I really saw what everyone was talking about. She was one of the most talented individuals Ive ever worked with.
"Everyone has different talents but she was born to be a footballer."
Hamptons love for football developed in Spain, where she moved with her family at the age of five and learned to speak the language fluently during her five years living there.
She was scouted by Villarreals academy after former Argentine defender Fabio Fuentes recommended Hampton go to a club trial.
On her return to England, she joined Stoke Citys academy before eventually breaking into the first team at Birmingham City at the age of 16 - switching positions from a striker to a goalkeeper.
She was already well known in Englands youth team set-ups and her international manager at the time, Rehanne Skinner, had seen her talent up close.
"She played with both feet. There are very few people in the game who can play off their weaker foot and hit it 60 yards with pinpoint accuracy," said Skinner.
During an England Under-19s game against Sweden, Skinner instructed Hampton to do one thing - hit it long.
"Hannah got an assist within the first 10 minutes of the game. We won 4-0. Not a lot of goalkeepers have those tools," said Skinner.
"As time has gone on, with maturity, being in the right settings and doing a lot of work behind the scenes, she has grown and put her attention into using those strengths to the best of her ability."
Ask anyone about Hampton and they all say the same thing - that she is technically gifted and excellent with the ball at her feet.
Former Birmingham and England team-mate Ellen White said Hampton would get involved in rondos, external in training and playing outfield "wasnt alien" to her.
But when Hampton revealed the extent of her eye condition - called strabismus - in the media, White admitted it was "probably a shock to a lot of people".
"She probably has to adapt a bit to combat it, but you wouldnt ever know if you saw her training. She is crazy and would throw herself at anything," added White.
"Her passing range is second to none, the way she moves and dives, and controls the ball. Shes up there as one of the most exciting young goalkeepers in world football.
"Maybe she helped influence other people who thought they couldnt be a goalkeeper."
Carla Ward (right) managed Hannah Hampton at Birmingham City and Aston Villa
Like all young players thrust into the limelight, White admitted Hampton was a "little immature" when they first played together at Birmingham.
"Her emotions would take hold of her a lot, which they would do for any 16-year-old, and it was about dealing with the ups and downs.
"You wont save a goal every time. Managing her emotions needed time, experience and understanding.
"I tried to take her under my wing a little bit and give her that guidance. I felt at that time she would be a very good goalkeeper but she needed some help."
Hampton rose through Englands ranks, making her senior debut against future world champions Spain in 2022.
She made the squad for Euro 2022 but months after celebrating victory - often seen dancing with White during laps of honour - her career hit a stumbling block.
Reports suggested she was dropped from the England squad because of her behaviour and she had to wait until March 2023 for a recall, when manager Sarina Wiegman said Hampton had "sorted out personal issues".
Speaking about that time, Hampton said the stories were "hurtful" and she revealed on the Fozcast podcast, external recently that she had considered quitting football.
"I was a very young girl when all the stories came out and youre not really prepared for that. You dont expect it," she told reporters on Tuesday.
"There have been moments when everyone [in the squad] has probably thought they were in a tough position, but you get each other out of it.
"You cant let all the media scrutiny win. If you do that it just adds fuel to the fire and I wasnt willing to accept that.
"I wanted to show who I am as a person and show that wasnt always true. I thought just dig in. I think I can say that Ive proven people wrong."
Ward managed Hampton at Aston Villa at the time, having brought her with her from Birmingham.
She fielded questions about Hamptons situation in news conferences and left the goalkeeper out of the squad against Chelsea for the "best interests" of the team.
"We had an aligned agreement between Sarina, myself and Hannah on how we would help her with it," said Ward, reflecting on the time.
"It was a difficult time for Hannah but it was probably a moment that really helped her. It was the moment she realised she had good support around her.
"She was a young kid that just really needed support."
White, who captained England for Hamptons debut, retired from international football just before she was dropped from the squad.
But White believed Hampton "just needed time" to mature and felt she did that under former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes when she joined them in 2023.
Having "an arm around her shoulders" helped, said White, as well as the drive to become Chelseas number one and get another shot on the international stage.
"Its obviously not ideal not being selected for England. A lot of things transpired. Fair play to her because she did just get her head down and work hard," said White.
"She just had to rebuild some of those relationships and gain them back in the England squad. I feel like she let her football do the talking.
"Everyone goes through ups and downs, rollercoaster emotions and going in and out of the squads. I am really proud of her. Im excited to see her at the Euros."
Hannah Hampton was confirmed as Englands number one in May
Ward and Hampton remain in close contact. The goalkeeper phones during Wards interview with BBC Sport, asking what name her daughter wants on the back of a new England shirt.
"It doesnt surprise me how well she has done. I always knew she would be Englands number one and I think shes one of the best I have ever seen," said Ward after confirming her daughter wants Hampton printed on the back of her shirt.
Hamptons confidence appears to have grown immensely this year after playing a key role in helping Chelsea claim an unbeaten domestic Treble.
Reflecting on her journey, she said: "It has been a bit of a whirlwind. Did I think, when I was a young girl, Id be sitting here right now in the position I am? Absolutely not.
"But I am proud and I am looking forward to the challenges ahead. I think its going to be a summer of very exciting football."
Hampton hopes to "fill the gloves" of previous England goalkeepers, including Mary Earps, who announced her shock retirement last month.
Earps is a two-time Fifa Best Goalkeeper award winner and played significant roles in Englands victory at Euro 2022 and en route to the 2023 World Cup final.
White admits she "feels sad" that Hampton will not be able to tap into Earps experience during the tournament and there is now even more scrutiny on the goalkeeping spot.
"It would have just been nice to have someone to be there for her and pass on that experience," said White.
"She needs to do the simple things and not do anything different. If she makes a slight mistake, I hope that doesnt affect her and she can move forward.
"Everyone is human; everyone makes mistakes and thats fine. Its just the scrutiny will be so much more now."
