For several years Hannah Hampton occupied an unenviable position of playing back-up to one of the stars of English football’s recent history, Mary Earps. Earps, who had been Sarina Wiegman’s first-choice goalkeeper since the Dutch coach took charge in September 2021, found herself in competition with Chelsea’s Hampton for the No 1 shirt at this summer’s Women’s European Championship. The 2023 Sports Personality of the Year winner had slipped down the pecking order, having been left out of England’s most recent matches against Belgium. Wiegman admitted in April that Hampton was ‘a little bit ahead’ of Earps in the race for the No 1 jersey. It’s quite the turnaround for the Birmingham-born stopper, ever present for Sonia Bompastor’s Blues, who dominated the domestic season, going unbeaten while amassing a record tally in the league and winning the women’s FA Cup. In her early days Hampton faced negative headlines which nearly caused her to quite the sport altogether but she credits her friends and family with helping to guide her in the right direction. ‘Media scrutiny gets to you more than you realise,’ she told Elle UK. ‘At a young age, I was likely exposed to more of it than most people are in their entire career, and I wasn’t ready.’ ‘It was harder to find that fight in me to prove people wrong, but somehow I managed it. I had all my friends and my family around me at the time to guide me in the right direction and keep me going. It’s worked out for the best – I’ve got a lot to thank them for.’ Hampton made her senior debut in February 2022 – while with Aston Villa, who she linked up with in the summer of 2021 on a free transfer – during England’s successful Arnold Clark Cup campaign when she starred on her way to keeping a clean sheet against Spain, before going on to make her second appearance in the 10-0 win over North Macedonia. Hampton, spent five years of her childhood growing up in Spain after moving there with her family, registered a competitive start for the Lionesses for the first time in over two years in April 2024 when she kept a clean sheet in England’s EURO 2025 qualifier against the Republic of Ireland. However, it was the December friendly win – fittingly over Switzerland, who will host this summer’s tournament – that marked the beginning of her ownership of the No 1 jersey. Hampton kept a clean sheet in the 1-0 win at Bramall Lane and has been Wiegman’s pick between the posts in the subsequent six international matches. Though she was a member of the victorious 2022 squad, with only 15 caps, Hampton would ordinarily be considered a junior member of the roster. But that is not a luxury that will be afforded in Wiegman’s inexperienced contingent. There are gaps all over the pitch, especially in goal where Hampton is now the only capped shot-stopper in the squad. Lucy Bronze, meanwhile, is the only recognised right-back. The lack of experience behind Wiegman’s trusted XI was laid bare against Spain earlier this month when Bronze and Georgia Stanway were substituted to manage loads. Jess Carter – out of position at right back – and debutant Missy-Bo Kearns stepped in. England looked quickly devoid of control and conceded twice. The reigning champions get their campaign underway against France on July 5 and Hampton accepts the side will face a level of competition unlike anything they have seen before. She added: ‘There’s pressure on everyone. It’s going to be more competitive than anything [we’ve experienced before]. ‘We know that if we can prepare ourselves the right way, then we can put on a good show for everyone – that’s what we’re aiming for.’