Latest news with #goalkeeping
New York Times
10 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
England's Hannah Hampton aiming to ‘fill the gloves' of Mary Earps at Euro 2025
Hannah Hampton says she will do her best to 'fill the gloves' of the goalkeepers who came before her at this summer's European Championship. Mary Earps's shock international retirement at the end of May left Chelsea's Hampton as England's No 1 ahead of their Euros title defence in Switzerland. Hampton, 24, has kept seven clean sheets in 15 senior appearances, but has never played at a major international tournament. Advertisement When asked about her journey at a media day ahead of the tournament, Hampton told reporters: 'Did I think, when I was a young girl, I'd be sitting here right now in the position I am? Absolutely not, but am I proud and am I looking forward to the challenges ahead? Yes. 'I'm going to be trying my absolute best to fill the gloves of the 'keepers (who came) before and the success they've had.' Earps's retirement at age 32 came as a shock to head coach Sarina Wiegman, who admitted she was 'disappointed' by the Paris Saint-Germain player's decision. However, Hampton was already in pole position for the starting spot at the Euros before Earps stepped back. She had started three consecutive matches across February and April and Wiegman confirmed after those games that the Chelsea 'keeper was 'a little bit ahead' of Earps. With Earps retired and backups (Orlando Pride's Anna Moorhouse and Manchester City's Khiara Keating) having no international caps, Hampton is the undisputed No 1. 'Getting that bit of clarity already helps you prepare for whatever your role is,' Hampton told reporters. 'My role is different this time around compared to the last tournaments but it's not going to change my mindset. I'm there to enjoy myself, do the nation proud with all the girls, and get memories.' Asked about Earps' retirement, Hampton added: 'We have to obviously respect what her decision is. 'I think there's been quite a bit of scrutiny that she probably doesn't deserve with everything that she's achieved in the game and obviously put women's goalkeeping on the map for the younger generation. 'I've sent her a text and I congratulated her on a very successful international career and I think that's all I really can do.' Hampton also paid tribute to Earps as a 'big personality' in the England fold. She said: 'I don't think I could safely say I'm probably as vocal or as big a personality as Mary, when she was playing (for England). 'It's probably one thing I have got to learn from a lot.' England play Jamaica on June 29, their final game before kicking off their Euros title defence against France on July 5. They also face the Netherlands and Wales in their group. (Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images)
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
England star Hannah Hampton reveals the Lionesses squad's true feelings on Mary Earps' shock retirement
England 's new No. 1 goalkeeper, Hannah Hampton, has said that 'everyone has found it difficult to come to terms' with Mary Earps ' decision to retire on the eve of the upcoming European Championships – but insisted that it's a move 'we have to respect'. The 24-year-old Chelsea shot-stopper had been in a battle with Earps to become first choice for the tournament in Switzerland until only a couple of months ago. With it becoming increasingly clear that Hampton was set to win the race, Earps, 32, sent shockwaves through the sporting world by ending her international footballing career five weeks before the Lionesses' Euros title defence. Speaking for the first time since Earps' withdrawal, Hampton said: 'First of all, we have to respect her decision. 'I think there's been quite a bit of scrutiny that she probably doesn't deserve, with everything that she's achieved in the game, as well as putting women's goalkeeping on the map for the younger generation. Goalkeeping was never really a thing, and Mary's changed that.' In terms of reaching out to Earps, Hampton said: 'I think I've done everything I need to do. I've sent her a text, and I congratulated her on a very successful international career, and I think that's all I really can do. 'I don't think there's anything else, and I don't really... I'm not expecting anything back. She's been an unbelievable player. We're going to miss her as a person here. She's a big personality in this team and she glued us all together at times when we needed to.' She added: 'I think it's been difficult for everyone to come to terms with what her decision is, but we have to respect that. And now I've just got to go and live up to her legacy. I'll give it my best shot, for sure.' Hampton had previously been Earps' deputy in the last two major tournaments – at the 2022 Euros and the 2023 World Cup. And she was keen to reassure fans that she is not feeling the pressure amidst all the noise, particularly now that she is the only capped goalkeeper in the squad. 'There's not really much pressure that you can put on yourself,' she said. 'We're here as a big team and we'll get through the games as a big team, whether that's me starting or me on the sidelines supporting. 'My role is different this time around compared to the last tournaments, but it's not going to change my mindset. 'I'm here to enjoy myself, do the nation proud with all the girls and make some more memories.' Manchester City's Khiara Keating, 20, and Orlando Pride's Anna Moorhouse, 30, join Hampton to form this summer's goalkeeping squad. And Hampton touched on Moorhouse's NWSL experience – including winning the league title with Orlando Pride last year – as well as Keating's Champions League experience with City. 'They're experienced themselves – maybe not internationally – but at the same time, if they ever play a game internationally, they're ready for it,' Hampton said. 'I think us as a keeper group, we're just there to get around one another, support one another, and we know whoever's going to be on that pitch is going to be putting in 100 per cent and doing a very good job for England to get that win.' result that we need.'
The Guardian
12 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Hannah Hampton aims to live up to Mary Earps's legacy as England No 1
Hannah Hampton has vowed to try to live up to Mary Earps's legacy after being confirmed as England's first-choice goalkeeper for Women's Euro 2025. After Earps's shock retirement from international football last month, the England head coach, Sarina Wiegman, confirmed that her first choice was Hampton, who had started the Lionesses' three previous games and has been selected five times in a row in the buildup to July's tournament in Switzerland. The Chelsea goalkeeper was asked at England's pre-Euros media day at St George's Park whether she was surprised by Earps's announcement and whether they had spoken. 'First of all we have to respect what her decision is,' Hampton said. 'I think there's been quite a bit of scrutiny that she probably doesn't deserve with everything that she's achieved in the game and obviously put women's goalkeeping on the map for the younger generation. It was never really a thing, and Mary's changed that. 'I think l've done everything I need to do: I've sent her a text and I congratulated her on a very successful international career and I think that's all I really can do. I don't think there's anything else and I'm not expecting anything back. She's been an unbelievable player. We're gonna miss her as a person here. She's a big personality in this team and she glued us all together at times when we needed to. 'It's been difficult for everyone to come to terms with what her decision is, but we have to respect that. Now l have got to just go and live up to her legacy. But I'll give it my best shot.' These Euros will be the first time the 24-year-old has been thrust so heavily into the spotlight, although she was part of the Lionesses squads for Euro 2022 and the 2023 World Cup. She has 15 caps and seven clean sheets, having made her debut in 2022. Asked how it felt to be the first-choice No 1, Hampton said: 'Just getting that bit of clarity already helps you prepare for whatever your role is. My role is different this time around compared to the last tournaments but it's not going to change my mindset. I'm there to enjoy myself, do the nation proud with all the girls and get memories.' Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion As a young child Hampton was diagnosed with an eye condition that affected her depth perception but, after surgeries, she remained determined to pursue a career as a goalkeeper. 'I've always gone through life trying to prove people wrong,' she said. 'I was told from a young age that I couldn't play football, that it wouldn't be a profession I could pursue – the doctors told my parents that. I'm here right now.'
The Independent
12 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Meet Hannah Hampton, the England goalkeeper following Mary Earps: ‘I have to live up to her legacy'
Hannah Hampton puffs out her cheeks as she considers the magnitude of what came before. Mary Earps leaves big gloves to fill; the England goalkeeper who not just won the Euros and was twice named the best in the world, but who changed goalkeeping and inspired a generation. 'I've got to just go and live up to her legacy,' Hampton says. The Lionesses have a new No 1. Hampton will be England's starting goalkeeper at Euro 2025, and would have been even if Earps had made Sarina Wiegman 's squad. Earps' shock decision to retire before the tournament, though, will naturally increase the spotlight on Hampton when England play France in the opening match of their Euros defence. If there is always attention on the goalkeeper, with nowhere to hide, the noise around Earps' retirement only adds to the scrutiny. But Hampton also won her place. At 24, she is coming off a hugely successful club season with Chelsea where she played almost every minute of their unbeaten treble-winning domestic campaign. Upon arriving at Chelsea, Sonia Bompastor made Hampton her No 1, a decision also reached by Wiegman in April when she told her goalkeepers their roles for the Euros. It was only Earps' decision to quit, at 32, that was the surprise, not the confirmation Hampton would be replacing her between the posts. Rewind a few years, however, and even Hampton admits that this would have been an unexpected outcome. Hampton was part of England's squad at the last Euros but was dropped by Wiegman after the tournament amid reports of her behaviour and attitude at camp. At 21, Hampton was left out by her club Aston Villa, too, while the negative headlines and stories circulating made her want to quit completely. She didn't, and instead put her head down. It wasn't the first time Hampton had found motivation by proving people wrong, either. She was born with a squint, and as a child underwent several corrective procedures on her eyes. Doctors told her that she couldn't play football and then said to her parents that she wouldn't be able to become a professional. To this day, Hampton does not have depth perception, but has still made it to the highest level of the game and is England's No 1. 'I'm sat here right now,' Hampton says. 'I think I can say that I've proved people wrong.' Hampton is a modern goalkeeper, and both Wiegman and Bompastor have been impressed by her abilities on the ball in building from the back as well as her shot-stopping. An upbringing in Spain, where Hampton lived from the age of five until just before her 11th birthday, perhaps helped lay the foundations of a versatile game. She played as a striker at Villarreal's academy, and remained an outfielder upon her family's return to England. The choice to turn to goalkeeper, as it often is, was a random one, filling in at a time of need and discovering a natural talent. It would not be until Earps' rise from self-doubting back-up to Lionesses star and England fan-favourite that goalkeeping became cool: at Lionesses games, it can often appear that there are as many children wearing England goalkeeper tops as the standard outfield home kit. Many of them, too, have Earps' name on the back. Even as Hampton now takes over, it is a lasting mark of what Earps achieved and there is gratitude for how she raised the bar for her profession. 'I think there's been quite a bit of scrutiny that she probably doesn't deserve with everything that she's achieved in the game and putting women's goalkeeping on the map for the younger generation inspiring to now be a goalkeeper,' Hampton says. 'It was never really a thing, and Mary's changed that. There's so many more young boys and girls taking part in goalkeeping, which was never the case when I was growing up.' Her impact is undeniable, but Earps was still accused in some quarters of putting herself above her country: an injury to Hampton or an unexpected suspension would leave the Lionesses with either the uncapped Khiara Keating or Anna Moorhouse in goal during the Euros. It deprives England of an influential character in the squad, too, at a time when the defending champions will also be without a key leader in vice-captain Millie Bright – missing the tournament as she battles mental and physical burnout. Hampton, though, can offer nothing but praise. She sent Earps a message to congratulate her on an 'unbelievable' international career, adding that she wasn't expecting to receive one in return. 'I think that's all I really can do,' she shrugs. Beth Mead, sat alongside Hampton during England's pre-Euros media day at St George's Park, reaffirms that she will have the support of the squad. 'Ultimately Hannah just needs to play each game at a time, enjoy her football,' Mead says. 'She's there for a reason.' And if the comparisons to Earps are inevitable, Hampton is more aware than anyone of the role she now has to play and the path there is to follow. 'We're gonna miss her as a person here,' Hampton says. 'She's a big personality in this team and she glued us all together at times when we needed to be. I think it's been difficult for everyone to come to terms with what her decision is, but we have to respect that.' Hampton pauses. 'And yeah, now I've got to just go and live up to her legacy. I'll give it my best shot for sure.'
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'Top professional' Fulton pens Hearts contract extension
Ryan Fulton's contract extension gives Hearts "strength and stability" in the goalkeeping department, says head coach Derek 29-year-old, who arrived at Tynecastle last summer from Hamilton, has penned a new deal that runs until the summer of who played three times last term, will continue to provide competition for the number one spot with Craig Gordon and Zander Clark."It's so important to have strong goalkeeping options to choose from," Hearts boss McInnes said. "With Ryan committing his future to the club, we have that that strength and stability. "I know from speaking to [goalkeeper coach] Paul Gallacher that Ryan is a top professional who gives his all in training and pushes his team-mates to be better."Ryan had to be patient last season, but I think everybody saw, when he was called into action, that he is a quality goalkeeper and we're fortunate to have him."
