Lionesses star Hannah Hampton is amongst the contenders to be named BBC Sports Personality of the Year tonight (Thursday). The England shot-stopper will discover her destiny during the ceremony, with live public voting taking place throughout the awards show.
Hampton secured her place as one of six nominees following her crucial role in the Lionesses’ Euro 2025 success. The 25-year-old proved the saviour in two penalty shoot-outs during the competition, making two vital stops against Spain in the final as Sarina Wiegman’s team defended their crown.
The Chelsea stopper established herself as England’s first-choice goalkeeper before the Euros, prompting Mary Earps’ surprising international retirement ahead of the tournament. Hampton had already demonstrated her calibre by helping steer Chelsea to a domestic treble last season, claiming the Women’s Super League, FA Cup and League Cup.
She received the Yashin Trophy, awarded to the world’s finest goalkeeper, at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in September. Nevertheless, she faces a challenge from fellow Lioness Chloe Kelly for the SPOTY crown.
Here is a closer look at Hampton’s journey…
Mary Earps allegation
Hampton faced unexpected criticism from Mary Earps in the former England star’s autobiography ‘All In’ earlier this year. The PSG goalkeeper claimed that Hampton’s “bad behaviour” in previous squads had been rewarded following her recall.
Wiegman subsequently defended her decision to pick Hampton. Meanwhile, the current England stopper addressed the 2023 BBC Sports Personality winner’s comments last month.
“I guess it’s the life of being a footballer, your life is in the spotlight,” Hampton told BBC Sport. “People are entitled to their opinions. People can say whatever they want to say. It’s down to myself whether I want to let that affect me. I definitely know it’s not going to.
“I’m not going to sit here and knock people for what they have to say, that’s their life, that’s their judgement. I’m just going to focus on myself, that’s all I can do. I want to achieve a lot more in the game and I can’t dwell on people’s thoughts. That’s going to hinder me, not help me.”
Water bottle drama
Hampton secured her place as an England legend through her contribution to the Euro 2025 triumph. She pulled off two saves in the quarter-final penalty shootout against Sweden before delivering the same heroics against Spain in the final.
However, a revelation about her tactics during the Spain clash further cemented Hampton as a cult hero.
During an interview with talkSPORT, she revealed: “The Spanish keeper had it (the penalty information) on her bottle, so I thought when she was going in goal, I’d just pick it up and chuck it into the English fans so she can’t have it. I don’t ever put it on a bottle because anyone can do that so I put it on my arm.”
When questioned about whether she had discarded her opponent’s bottle, Hampton confirmed: “Yeah, it wasn’t hard. When she’s gone in the goal, it’s on its own isn’t it? It’s in the towel, you just pick it up.
“She was walking back to take the penalty and I was walking the other way and she was so confused, and I was just trying not to burst out laughing, being like, ‘I don’t know what’s happening!’ ” You’ve got to do something, haven’t you?”
Nevertheless, Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll has disputed the account. Responding on social media, Coll posted: “Okay, okay, calm down, calm down. At least if it were true…’.”
Eyesight issue
Despite holding the England number one position, Hampton has previously revealed struggles with her vision. The former Aston Villa star was born with strabismus, a condition affecting depth perception, and underwent multiple procedures as a child, though it continues to impact the goalkeeper outside of football.
“I’ve always gone through life trying to prove people wrong,” she said before the Euros. “I was told from a young age that I couldn’t play football, that it wouldn’t be a profession I could pursue. But here I am.”
After her first England call-up in 2021, Hampton revealed: “I have no depth perception, so I can’t judge distances – so being a goalkeeper doesn’t really make a lot of sense. It’s more off the pitch when you notice it. For example, pouring a glass of water – if I’m not holding the glass itself I will miss it and spill it everywhere.”
