England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton has revealed the private heartache she carried all through Euro 2025, sharing that her grandfather handed away simply two days earlier than the match started.
The 24-year-old Chelsea star performed a pivotal position within the Lionesses’ success, producing two essential saves within the penalty shootout as England defeated Spain 3-1 within the closing after a 1-1 attract further time.
Her heroic show earned her the participant of the match award and capped a standout marketing campaign.
On Monday, Hampton posted on Instagram with a photograph of her inexperienced England shirt, which had “grandpa” written contained in the collar, and shared an emotional tribute.
“Pricey Grandpa. Two days earlier than the most important match of my life, you left.
“It nonetheless doesn’t really feel actual. I saved considering once I’d name nannie I’d hear your voice once more, one in every of your jokes, or a type of little feedback you’d make that someway mentioned every thing with out saying a lot in any respect.
“You had been one in every of my largest supporters. You believed in me earlier than I even knew what this journey would appear to be. You had been all the time there: watching, encouraging, educating. You taught me a lot, not nearly soccer, however about life. About staying grounded, working onerous, being resilient and doing issues the fitting means.
“I miss our chats. I miss you saying, ‘solely us athletes perceive’, all the time with slightly smirk such as you had been in on one thing particular. And also you had been. You bought it. You understood what this meant to me. You understood what it took.
“It breaks my coronary heart that you just didn’t 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 instances. I needed to see your face or hear your voice after the sport calling again house. I needed to share that with you.
“However I do know, deep down, you had been nonetheless there. I felt you with me. Within the tunnel. On the pitch. Within the robust moments. I heard you in my head once I wanted power. I hope I made you proud, Grandpa.”
