After changing Earps, Hampton overcame the big weight of stress and expectation to assist England defend their European crown in Switzerland.
“I knew that if England acquired knocked out earlier, there would have been much more highlight on me,” she mentioned.
“I simply thought, you realize what, simply go and revel in your soccer. I’ve at all times mentioned I carry out higher after I get pleasure from it.”
To compound issues, Hampton realized of the dying of her grandfather simply two days earlier than the match started.
“After I then acquired the information about my grandad, that gave me that additional push to go and present everybody what I can do as a result of that was our dream collectively,” she mentioned.
“I believe individuals neglect that we’re simply human beings. All of us have emotions, all of us have our personal struggles that we’re going by exterior of soccer, exterior of the soccer pitch.
“You simply should deal with your self and maintain your self going. As laborious as it’s, particularly for me coming to phrases with dropping a relative who you’re keen on dearly and also you’re very near, having not absolutely grieved.
“You have then acquired all the opposite stuff that is piled on prime. It would not at all times assist.”
It has been a 12 months of highs and lows, however Hampton is grateful for the work of her predecessors in elevating the profile of feminine goalkeepers.
“It nonetheless would not fairly sink in that folks name you England primary,” Hampton mentioned.
“It is a lonely place, however it’s additionally very rewarding. You may be the hero at moments and also you is also the villain at moments.
“The keepers earlier than me Carly [Telford], Karen [Bardsley], Mary [Earps], even earlier than that, they’ve modified the notion of girls’s goalkeeping.
“I am simply one other physique in that that is clearly helped change the best way together with Khiara [Keating] and Anna [Moorhouse] in the mean time.
“Girls’s goalkeeping has positively taken off, we’re attempting to alter perceptions slowly however certainly.”
