England star Hannah Hampton has revealed a household heartbreak she suffered previous to Euro 2025 after posting an emotional message on social media.
Her tribute got here simply hours earlier than the Lionesses touched down on British soil for the primary time since lifting the trophy on Sunday night time.
The squad might be seen arriving at Southend Airport in a specially-signed Nike aircraft that featured the phrase ‘House’ in pink lettering.
Gamers and administration have been then seen rising from the plane as they emerged to a crowd of round 300 Brits who had waited to welcome them dwelling.
Hampton, 24, denied each Mariona Caldentey and Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati from the spot, earlier than Salma Paralluelo fired broad – capping a second shootout masterclass from her this match.
She then took to Instagram to share a touching tribute to her grandfather, who she revealed handed away two days earlier than the beginning of the match, which started on July 2.
England star Hannah Hampton has revealed a household heartbreak she suffered previous to Euro 2025
The Lionesses have been seen touchdown again on dwelling soil on Monday afternoon following their triumph
They touched down at Southend Airport on a specially-signed Nike-sponsored plane which learn ‘House’ in pink lettering
Hampton’s tribute was simply hours earlier than the Lionesses touched down on British soil for the primary time since lifting the trophy on Sunday night time
The squad might be seen arriving at Southend Airport in a specially-signed Nike aircraft that featured the phrase ‘House’ in pink lettering
Hampton, 24, was certainly one of England’s star performers over the course of Euro 2025
Hampton took to Instagram to share a touching tribute to her grandfather on Monday
She additionally posted an image of her jersey, which had the phrase ‘Grandpa’ written beneath her squad variety of 222
Hampton penned a prolonged, emotional message in reminiscence of her grandfather on social media
She wrote: ‘Two days earlier than the largest match of my life, you left.
‘It nonetheless would not really feel actual. I stored pondering once I’d name nannie I would hear your voice once more – certainly one of your jokes, or a kind of little feedback you’d make that in some way stated all the things with out saying a lot in any respect.
‘You have been certainly one of my greatest supporters. You believed in me earlier than I even knew what this journey would appear like. You have been all the time there – watching, encouraging, educating. You taught me a lot, not nearly soccer, however about life. About staying grounded, working laborious, being resilient and doing issues the fitting approach.
‘I miss our chats. I miss you saying ‘Solely us athletes perceive’ — all the time with just a little smirk such as you have been in on one thing particular. And also you have been. You bought it. You understood what this meant to me. You understood what it took.’
She additionally saved two penalties in England’s chaotic quarter-final win over Sweden, establishing herself as one of many breakout stars of the summer time.
It marks a outstanding rise for Hampton, who was an understudy to Mary Earps throughout England’s Euros triumph on dwelling soil in 2022 and once more on the 2023 Ladies’s World Cup.
Earps herself gained the BBC Sports activities Character of the Yr award in 2023 after saving a penalty within the World Cup remaining — additionally towards Spain — albeit in a shedding trigger.
Earps completed forward of Stuart Broad and Katarina Johnson-Thompson within the public vote that 12 months.
Hampton, pictured being congratulated by Prince William, is now a contender for the 2025 BBC Sports activities Character of the Yr award following her beautiful type within the match
Hampton’s team-mate Ella Toone posted her personal tribute to her late father Nick, in addition to fellow Lioness star Beth Mead’s mom, June, who died from ovarian most cancers 18 months in the past
Based on Betfair, Hampton is now joint second-favourite at 5/1 to win SPOTY, behind solely Rory McIlroy, who leads the market at Evens after a stellar season that included successful The Masters in April — his first Inexperienced Jacket and fifth main general
Hampton continued her tribute by including: ‘It breaks my coronary heart that you just did not get to see me stroll out for our nation at my first main match… one thing you dreamed of for me, one thing we talked about so many occasions. I needed to see your face or hear your voice after the sport calling again dwelling. I needed to share that with you.
‘However I do know, deep down, you have been nonetheless there. I felt you with me. Within the tunnel. On the pitch. Within the powerful moments. I heard you in my head once I wanted power.
‘I hope I made you proud, Grandpa. I carried you thru each minute. And I all the time will. I did it. WE DID IT.’
It comes after Hampton’s team-mate Ella Toone posted her personal tribute to her late father Nick after the Lionesses tasted European glory for the second match in succession.
After the ultimate whistle, she took to Instagram to publish that there was a spare seat subsequent to her mom throughout the remaining, including: ‘If that is not an indication I do not know what’s’.
Toone, 25, additionally uploaded an image alongside Beth Mead, who misplaced her mom June to ovarian most cancers 18 months in the past, which was captioned: ‘We did it for our angels within the sky. Without end with us and without end proud’.
Toone added: ‘My dad, I went as much as see my household and my mum she stated there was a spare seat subsequent to her.
She stored her aspect within the remaining after which stood as much as the stress of the dreaded shoot-out
‘He was there and that was the signal I used to be searching for in the present day. My household, my dad, everybody who has obtained me right here in the present day, they’ve been my assist community from the very begin.’
Whereas Hampton will now go down in England folklore thanks her Euro heroics, life has not been a simple journey for Sarina Wiegman’s new star.
At a younger age, Hampton was recognized with strabismus – a depth notion situation brought on by one eye turning in another way than the opposite. By the age of three, she had already undergone three operations in an try to right the difficulty. None proved profitable, and docs suggested her to keep away from enjoying sports activities altogether.
Such was the issue of the issue that she would battle to pour herself water, spilling it throughout herself if she wasn’t holding the glass.
However at the same time as a toddler, Hampton wasn’t one to be deterred. Regardless of frequent bloody noses and damaged fingers – early outcomes of her misjudging ball trajectory – she was decided to maintain enjoying.
‘I feel I’ve all the time gone by life attempting to show folks improper,’ she stated. ‘I used to be instructed from a younger age that I couldn’t play soccer, that it wouldn’t be a occupation I may pursue – the docs instructed my dad and mom that.’
As an alternative, that warning solely fuelled her ambition. ‘Discovering that out made me extra decided to achieve the best degree attainable. Taking part in sport was all the time my ardour and my dream.’
That dream started taking form when her household moved to Spain when she was 5. Her dad and mom needed her to study a brand new language and tradition, however it additionally opened footballing doorways. Hampton was quickly scouted by Villarreal and joined their academy, spending 5 years on Spain’s east coast studying to play as a striker.
After transferring to Spain aged 5 Hampton was scouted by Villarreal and performed as a striker
At a younger age, Hampton was recognized with strabismus – a depth notion situation brought on by one eye turning in another way than the opposite
Nonetheless, she insists she had no plans to take a penalty for England within the quarter-final, in contrast to Sweden’s goalkeeper Jennifer Falk, who missed their fifth and remaining spot-kick in that shootout. So too within the remaining, her heroics have been firmly with the gloves, moderately than her boots.
‘They instructed me to concentrate on the saving half first after which on the subject of it I might’ve taken one,’ a delighted Hampton stated after the match. ‘I get a bit excited – my striker instincts come out!’
There hasn’t all the time been a jubilant temper radiating from Hampton, and a part of that has come right down to a troublesome journey to get to the place we’re in the present day.
Her imaginative and prescient points have by no means absolutely disappeared, and for somebody as emotionally attuned as Hampton, the rollercoaster of goalkeeping – with its dizzying highs and brutal lows – has at occasions taken its toll, particularly in her youthful years.
