England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton hopes to ‘live up to the legacy' of Mary Earps
Earps was instrumental in inspiring the Lionesses to their first major trophy on home turf in 2022, but had been slipping in boss Sarina Wiegman's favour behind 24-year-old Chelsea shot-stopper Hampton before announcing she would be stepping away from international football last month.
Hampton felt her predecessor did not deserve the 'scrutiny' she experienced in the aftermath, but conceded she was 'not expecting' a reply to a congratulatory text she sent Earps, 32, after she made her shock decision public.
living out the dream of a little girl from the Midlands who never stopped believing. proud to be representing my country at another major tournament🏴 pic.twitter.com/AENMCU8mLH
— Hannah Hampton (@hannahhampton_) June 5, 2025
'We're going to miss her as a person here,' Hampton said. 'She's a big personality in this team and she glued us all together at times when we needed (her) to.
'So, 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 got to just go and live up to her legacy. I'll give it my best shot for sure.'
In April, Wiegman confirmed the younger keeper was 'a little bit ahead' of two-time FIFA Best winner Earps.
'First of all we have to obviously respect what (Earps') decision is,' said Hampton.
'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 (she's) put women's goalkeeping on the map for the younger generation, aspiring to now be a goalkeeper.
'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.
'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'm not expecting anything back. She's been an unbelievable player.'
Hampton has steadily risen up the ranks for both club and country since joining Chelsea from Aston Villa in 2023.
And ahead of England's Euros defence – which begins against France on July 5, she added: 'I think of it as just playing another game of football.
'There's not really much pressure that you can put on yourself. We're here as a big team.
Mary Earps has today announced her decision to retire from international football with immediate effect.
The decision marks the end of a memorable eight-year international career. ❤️ 🏴
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) May 27, 2025
'You'll get through the games as a big team, whether that was me starting or me on the sidelines supporting – you knew what your role was going to be for the whole of the summer.
'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. I remember all the memories from the last World Cup and Euros and I cherish every single one of them, I just want to keep repeating that.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
32 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Ex-Rangers star Nikola Katic to join German giants in shock cut-price transfer
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT wasn't too long ago that sections of the Rangers support were clamouring for Nikola Katic to return. But while the imposing defender is on the move once again, it certainly WON'T be to Ibrox. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 4 Nikola Katic spend the second half of last season at Plymouth Argyle Credit: AP 4 He was part of the side that stunned Liverpool in the FA Cup Credit: AFP 4 Katic spent four years on the books at Rangers Credit: PA Katic, 28, was one of Steven Gerrard's first signings as Rangers manager in June 2018. Signed from Croatian club Slaven Belupo, he went on to spend four years with the Light Blues. While there were some major highs - including a memorable Old Firm winner at Celtic Park - his time at Ibrox was blighted by injury. In July 2020, Katic suffered a serious knee injury that kept him out for more than a year. It meant he missed the entire season as the Gers won the Scottish Premiership title in 2021. His Light Blues career would never recover from the injury and he spent the 2021/22 season on loan at Hajduk Split. After briefly returning to Rangers, he was on the move permanently in August 2022. Katic joined FC Zurich where he would enjoy a successful stint. He returned to the UK in January this year, joining Plymouth Argyle on loan until the end of the season. Katic became a fans' favourite at Home Park but he couldn't prevent the club being relegated to League One. Rangers stars Borna Barisic and Nikola Katic followed by film crew in Glasgow city centre He played a memorable role in Plymouth's shock 1-0 FA Cup triumph over Liverpool, losing a tooth during the bruising encounter. Fast forward to now, and Katic is on the move again. Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg is reporting that there's a full agreement for Katic to join Schalke. He claims the deal will be signed and sealed on Tuesday with a contract running until 2028. While Schalke are one of Germany's biggest clubs, they're a fallen giant these days. They were relegated from the Bundesliga in 2023 and mounting financial trouble saw them flirt with potential demotion to either the third or fourth tier. 4 In the end, they kept their place in the 2. Bundesliga and finished 14th last season. This summer, Schalke hired Miron Muslic as their new manager. He was the manager who signed Katic for Plymouth last season and clearly liked what he saw. Katic, capped eight times for Bosnia and Herzegovina, is heading to Germany for a very modest fee indeed. Plettenberg says he'll be moving for just 450,000 Euros which is a fee of just over £384,000. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Wubben-Moy's "full-circle moment" of pride on school sport
Lotte Wubben-Moy embraces the power of her voice. The England defender has long used her platform to advocate for positive change. Some of her biggest wins have come away from the pitch."This role, as a Lioness, as an Arsenal football player, comes with a responsibility and I'm willing to take that responsibility and bring people on board with me," she said."There's so much power and unity within a group of women, and when we do it all together, I think there's no stopping us."Wubben-Moy was speaking to BBC Sport after the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer visited the squad ahead of the defence of their European title in Switzerland and announced new measures to improve equal access to school a cause close to Wubben-Moy's after winning Euro 2022, she spearheaded an ultimately successful campaign in which the Lionesses' squad wrote an open letter to the then government demanding equal access to school football for governments have now turned her words into Wubben-Moy discussed the issue with Sir Keir she reflected on a "full circle moment"."It's not just about building or laying the foundations for future Lionesses to come through. It's about looking at sport and the power of football as a way to build positive physical or mental well-being" she said."The amount of lessons that I learned as a young girl having to communicate, raising my self-esteem - all soft skills that you don't pick up necessarily in the class from doing maths or English, you actually pick up feeling confident in your body."The government announced a new school sport partnership between schools, local clubs and governing bodies which they said would ensure that "all young people have equal access to high-quality sport and extracurricular activity."Girls will be given the same opportunity as boys to play sport at school, as well as equal access to those with special needs and disabilities, the government said: "The policy that's being implemented will ensure that every girl and boy can go to school and move - minimum two hours - play football, play whatever sport they want.""Equality is important and that allows young girls, young boys to live their lives starting off as confident young people."A Champions League winner with Arsenal, Wubben-Moy will be hoping to make her mark in a major tournament for England this summer. The 26-year-old was an unused member of the Euro 2022 and 2023 World Cup squads. She's seen first-hand how England has evolved."We've got a target on our back now as Euro winners," she said. " And I think that has allowed us to own it, be confident. "I think looking at the task ahead, every team is going to gunning against us. But likewise, are we going to gunning against every other team and I think with that comes a possibility for some of the best football you have ever seen at a Euros."It's some statement, but then Wubben-Moy is used to making those. On and off the pitch. Head here to get involved
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
‘It's a joke' – Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca slams Club World Cup delays and fumes US shouldn't host tournament
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ENZO MARESCA slammed the decision to suspend Chelsea's clash with Benfica for TWO HOURS as "a joke". Chelsea ran out 4-1 winners in the last 16 tie but Maresca was far from happy with the US being the hosts of the Club World Cup. 3 Enzo Maresca was less than impressed with Chelsea's delay against Benfica Credit: Getty 3 The Blues beat Benfica but only after the game needed five hours to finish Credit: Getty The match took almost five hours to complete after the teams were forced inside, with the Blues 1-0 up with four minutes remaining thanks to Reece James' free-kick, due to "the risk of lightning in the vicinity of Bank of America Stadium". On the resumption, Angel Di Maria equalised with a controversial stoppage-time penalty to take the game to extra time, only for Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to seal Chelsea's win. Maresca, in his press conference, said of the long delay: "I think it's a joke, to be honest. "It's not football, it's completely something new, I struggle to understand. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL MARC MADE Liverpool ready to offer winger to Crystal Palace in swap for £50m-rated Guehi WATCH EVERY MATCH OF THE CLUB WORLD CUP 2025 LIVE ON DAZN "I can understand if it's security reasons but if you suspend seven or eight games then it's probably not the right place to do the competition. "It's not normal to suspend the game. In a World Cup, how many games are suspended? Zero probably. In Europe how many games get suspended? Zero. "We've been here two weeks and they've already suspended six or seven games, there is some problems for me personally. "I'm talking as a manager because when you're two hours inside and you have to try to keep them (the players) in the game, they're speaking to their families outside for safety reasons, they're eating, they're playing, they're laughing, how can you keep them inside focused for two hours? It's a joke." JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS One of Maresca's players at least was able to make light of the delay, which saw the game finish at 1.40am UK time, with defender Trevoh Chalobah posting on social media: "Game started Saturday and ended Sunday". Players were pictured riding exercise bikes and kicking balls in the dressing room during the enforced break. Chelsea vs Benfica SUSPENDED with just five minutes left as referee takes players off due to severe lightning storm 3 Trevoh Chalobah saw thr funny side of the lenghty delay Credit: Getty Maresca told DAZN: "Especially when it's 85 minutes, five minutes to go, it's very difficult. "But we tried to keep them in the best way we could in that moment and, at the end, we are in the last eight teams here in this competition and we are very happy." Gianluca Prestianni saw red for Bruno Lage's men in extra time for a second yellow card as Chelsea booked their place against Palmeiras in the quarter-finals. The Blues could now come up against Palmeiras' Stamford Bridge-bound Estevao Willian, whose side defeated fellow Brazilian club Botafogo on Saturday.
