HANNAH HAMPTON is feeding off the encouragement and support of her more experienced goalkeeping team mates as she looks to secure a place in England’s squad for the 2022 Euros, reports TONY LEIGHTON.
Aston Villa player Hampton, 21, is the youngest of the four keepers in the provisional squad of 28, with Head Coach Sarina Wiegman set to leave one of them out when naming her final 23-player squad on Wednesday.
Ellie Roebuck, Mary Earps and Sandy MacIver complete the goalkeeper’s union training at St George’s Park ahead of Wiegman’s eagerly awaited announcement.
Putting that work in 😤
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) June 13, 2022
“There’s not really a massive age gap,” says Hampton, “but they’ve experienced so many major tournaments before and this will be my first one.
“I’ve looked up to them for a long time and to train with them is insane, but it’s all healthy competition – we encourage each other and we’re there to help each other improve.
“Whatever the outcome is on Wednesday we’ll be there for each other, we’ll support each other and whoever it is (who’s left out) we’ll support them from afar. It’s all good in the camp – we’re all a massive family.”
As the squad announcement draws ever closer, Hampton – who made her senior England debut less than four months ago – could be forgiven for feeling nervous.
But she insists: “D’you know what, I’m actually alright. I think if you’d asked me this a month, two months ago, yeah, I would have been bricking it.
“Having time off at the end of the season, you do think about things a lot, but once you get on the pitch it’s back to your normal job. I’m just enjoying my football and seeing where it will take me.”
As well as a demanding training schedule during the Euros build-up, the players have been busy off the pitch with workshops and visits from footballing notables such as the England men’s team players Declan Rice and Kieran Trippier.
“It’s been great hearing some people’s experiences,” says Hampton. “We had the men come in to talk to us, that was lovely, hearing what they did – there was a home (men’s) Euros as well.
“They’ve inspired a whole nation and we hope we can do that as well, bring the nation together. We’re all looking forward to it – it’ll be great.”
⏰ Set your reminders ⏰
Our #WEURO2022 squad will be announced tomorrow at 5pm. pic.twitter.com/3eAJ7CArmX
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) June 14, 2022
