After replacing Earps, Hampton overcame the enormous weight of pressure and expectation to help England defend their European crown in Switzerland.
“I knew that if England got knocked out earlier, there would have been a lot more spotlight on me,” she said.
“I just thought, you know what, just go and enjoy your football. I’ve always said I perform better when I enjoy it.”
To compound matters, Hampton learned of the death of her grandfather just two days before the tournament began.
“When I then got the news about my grandad, that gave me that extra push to go and show everyone what I can do because that was our dream together,” she said.
“I think people forget that we are just human beings. We all have feelings, we all have our own struggles that we’re going through outside of football, outside of the football pitch.
“You just have to focus on yourself and keep yourself going. As hard as it is, especially for me coming to terms with losing a relative who you love dearly and you’re very close to, having not fully grieved.
“You’ve then got all the other stuff that’s piled on top. It doesn’t always help.”
It’s been a year of highs and lows, but Hampton is grateful for the work of her predecessors in raising the profile of female goalkeepers.
“It still doesn’t quite sink in that people call you England number one,” Hampton said.
“It’s a lonely position, but it’s also very rewarding. You could be the hero at moments and you could also be the villain at moments.
“The keepers before me Carly [Telford], Karen [Bardsley], Mary [Earps], even before that, they’ve changed the perception of women’s goalkeeping.
“I’m just another body in that that’s obviously helped change the way along with Khiara [Keating] and Anna [Moorhouse] at the moment.
“Women’s goalkeeping has definitely taken off, we’re trying to change perceptions slowly but surely.”
