'I stand on the shoulders of many great goalkeepers' - From Staffs schoolgirl to world No.1 as Hannah Hampton wins inaugural award
Hannah Hampton's extraordinary rise continued as she was named inaugural winner of the women's Yashin Trophy for the world's No.1 goalkeeper.
It has been quite the year for the former Staffordshire schoolgirl, who played a starring role as England's Lionesses retained their European Championship crown, with Hampton the penalty shootout hero in the final against Spain.
And on Monday night at a glitzy Ballon d'Or awards venue in Paris there was individual silverware for Hampton as the 24-year-old was voted the best goalkeeper in the world.
It is a world away from her time as a student at Erasmus Darwin Academy in Burntwood, where the burgeoning goalkeeper attended between 2015 and 2017 as she balanced studies with making an impression in the football academies at Stoke and then Birmingham City.
But Hampton's career has skyrocketed since impressing at Villa to earn a move to Women's Super League giants Chelsea in 2023 and now, after just 22 caps for England but with a major title as No.1 under her belt, she has become one of the most recognisable faces in the women's game.
Hampton, who is a West Brom Albion fan, attended the prestigious awards at Paris' Theatre Du Chatelet alongside some of her Lionesses team-mates and boss Sarina Wiegman, who claimed coach of the year for leading England to back-to-back Euro crowns.
In her acceptance speech, while stood next to men's Yashin award winner Gianluigi Donnarumma of Manchester City, Hampton insisted the trophy was an award for the women's game and the many goalkeepers who inspired her.
"I don't think it's an achievement for me - I think it's an achievement for women's goalkeeping that the award is finally taken part," Hampton said. "I stand on the shoulders of many great goalkeepers of the past.
"Sitting around my fellow nominees, it's an honour to be a part of such an incredible group and inspiring goalkeepers of the future by working so hard.
"I'd like to thank my family, my brother who's here tonight for all the sacrifices they made growing up, driving me around everywhere so I can fulfil my dream by being here tonight.
"To all the coaches at Stoke, Birmingham, Villa and at Chelsea, to Sarina having the faith and belief with me over the summer, to the fans - your support does not go unnoticed and does truly mean a lot."
The goalkeeper enjoyed success at club level as well as on the international stage. She has helped Chelsea to successive league titles and a domestic treble last season, while winning the golden glove award.
Hampton has stayed true to her roots while enjoying a stunning rise in the game - which was accelerated earlier this year following the shock retirement of former England No.1 Mary Earps on the eve of the tournament.
Hampton's former PE teacher Emma Heighway still works at Erasmus Darwin and the Lioness visited the school before the European Championship to inspire students.
The Birmingham-born goalkeeper, like her father Chris, is also a massive Albion fan and was inspired by former Baggies shot-stopper Ben Foster while a youngster.
She visited The Hawthorns during an Albion game in August and received a huge ovation from all four stands.
There has been adversity in her young life and career, too.
Hampton was born with a serious eye condition which required surgery to correct and affected her depth conception. She was told on multiple occasions she would not play football.
Hampton's speech also reflected on the tragic passing of influential women's football figure Matt Beard over the weekend. Beard was a two-time manager of Liverpool, as well as Chelsea and many others. He died aged 47.
The Chelsea goalkeeper also remembered her late grandpa, an inspiration to her career, who died ahead of the Euros this year.
"The women's game sadly on Saturday night lost a trailblazer in Matt Beard," added Hampton. "Matt was someone who cared an awful lot for the women's game before no-one else did.
"He lit up the room when anyone was in it. It's just a message to show not everyone should have to go through these dark moments alone. Sometimes the brightest smiles in the room hide the heaviest pain and he will be greatly missed.
"And finally, grandpa, I love and miss you every day. I hope I did you proud - and we did it."
