Focus on errors can 'tarnish' goalkeepers - Hampton

Hannah Hampton, England’s number one goalkeeper, won the Golden Glove for a second consecutive season at the Women’s Super League awards. She said women’s goalkeepers face constant scrutiny, yet positive performances often receive too little recognition. She argued that media outlets can disproportionately highlight errors, using video clips that tarnish the reputation of women’s goalkeeping. Hampton called for goalkeepers to champion one another’s successes so media coverage follows suit and women’s football gains the recognition it deserves. She also referenced personal setbacks, including being dropped from the England squad in 2022 and later returning after personal issues were resolved. She described negative stories as hurtful and said she considered quitting football.

"“Women's goalkeepers always get scrutiny, but when we do something right there is not enough celebrating or acknowledgement of that,” said Hampton. “We have to start doing it to one another, then the media will hopefully follow. There's a lot of goalkeepers out there that should get more credit than they do.”"

"“The media have a big impact. If a goalkeeper makes a mistake, all of a sudden they are the first people to put video clips out there and tarnish the reputation of women's goalkeeping. “Why put someone down when we're trying to put women's football on the map where it deserves to be? We have to champion each other's successes.”"

"“I think media companies can do a lot better in terms of what they put out there.” Hampton’s career has been far from smooth sailing, with the ex-Birmingham City goalkeeper hitting headlines when she was dropped from the England squad in 2022 shortly after their first Euros triumph."

"Speaking about that time, Hampton said the stories were “hurtful” and she later revealed on the Fozcast podcast she had considered quitting football. In November, Mary Earps - her former England team-mate and predecessor as number one - released an autobiography which heavily criticised Hampton."

Read at www.bbc.com