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 event 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 remaining 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.
“Dear Grandpa. Two days earlier than the largest event of my life, you left.
“It nonetheless doesn’t really feel actual. I stored pondering once I’d name nannie I’d hear your voice once more, one in every of your jokes, or a kind of little feedback you’d make that by some means stated all the things with out saying a lot in any respect.
“You have been one in every of my greatest supporters. You believed in me earlier than I even knew what this journey would seem like. You have been at all times there: watching, encouraging, instructing. You taught me a lot, not nearly soccer, however about life. About staying grounded, working arduous, being resilient and doing issues the precise approach.
“I miss our chats. I miss you saying, ‘solely us athletes perceive’, at all times with slightly smirk such as you have been in on one thing particular. And you have been. You obtained it. You understood what this meant to me. You understood what it took.
“It breaks my coronary heart that you simply didn’t get to see me stroll out for our nation at my first main event. Something you dreamed of for me, one thing we talked about so many occasions. I needed to see your face or hear your voice after the sport calling again dwelling. I needed to share that with you.
“But I do know, deep down, you have been nonetheless there. I felt you with me. In the tunnel. On the pitch. In the robust moments. I heard you in my head once I wanted energy. I hope I made you proud, Grandpa.”
