As a child, doctors told her she`d never be able to play sports; now she`s one of England`s rising stars: `I don`t have depth perception, but I play anyway.` And she does it exceptionally well.
At the conclusion of the Women`s Euro group stages, UEFA initiated a contest to vote for the most beautiful goal of the tournament`s initial phase. Among the top contenders was a truly remarkable play, literally starting from a distance: a powerful sixty-meter clearance directly from goalkeeper Hannah Hampton to Russo, followed by a clever lay-off for Lauren, who then unleashed a magnificent long-range shot. This stunning sequence unfolded during England`s dominant 4-0 victory over the Netherlands, marking the Lionesses` joyful opening goal. What makes this goal particularly noteworthy? The player who showcased such brilliant vision and playmaking ability, Hannah Hampton, theoretically possesses neither from birth. She was once asked, “How can a girl with strabismus and impaired depth perception possibly play in goal?” Her confident reply: “I don`t know, but it works.” And indeed, it works incredibly well.
Strabismus: A Childhood Challenge
From a very young age, Hannah was captivated by football, but her pursuit seemed like a one-way street, especially when medical professionals delivered disheartening news: her dream of becoming a footballer wasn`t compatible with her condition. “They informed my parents that I would never be able to play sports because I wouldn`t be able to accurately perceive the ball approaching me. It would be too dangerous,” recounted the talented Chelsea and England women`s team goalkeeper. Yet, a dream is a powerful force. As a child, she underwent several eye operations, striving to correct not only her depth perception issues but also her strabismus. Regrettably, none of these interventions proved fully effective. She explained her struggles, “I experienced numerous nosebleeds and constantly broken fingers. I would attempt to catch the ball, but it would strike the back of my hand, forcing me to adapt my technique.”
The Insight of a Former Villarreal Player
Sometimes, a simple journey can change everything. This was the case for Hampton and her family when she was just five years old. Her parents relocated from England to southern Spain, where Hannah continued to playfully kick a ball around with her peers, albeit with noticeable difficulty. It was there that she caught the attention of Fabio Fuentes, a former Argentine defender for Villarreal. He conveyed to her parents, “Never mind the eye problem, she absolutely deserves a trial.” A few years later, upon their return to England, she got her chance. Stoke City decided to invest in her potential. The twelve-year-old`s visual impairments seemed to be overcome by her sheer perseverance. “It wasn`t about my eyes back then; in Spain, I was focused on their football philosophy: everyone there is ambidextrous, and I strove to learn that too. I`m not afraid to use my feet or venture outside the penalty area when necessary,” she stated. And indeed, her dedication has led her to become a central figure in some of the most spectacular goals seen at a European Championship. Quite an achievement for a goalkeeper.
Following in the Footsteps of Gordon Banks
Off the pitch, Hannah struggles with everyday tasks like pouring water, needing one hand on the bottle and the other on the glass to guide it. However, when she steps onto the field, her challenges seem to vanish. “I fundamentally lack depth perception,” she explained in 2021, “yet I still manage to play in goal.” Matt Pyzdrowski, a former goalkeeper who later became a coach, was captivated by her unique story and sought to understand it further. “Hannah has developed her own distinctive method of reading the ball`s trajectory, and it is remarkably effective. The human brain and body are truly miraculous; she has managed to invent a way to compensate for her condition. After all, it would be far more challenging to have perfect vision your entire life and then suddenly find yourself with only one functioning eye.” This latter scenario tragically befell Hampton`s legendary compatriot, Gordon Banks. The man famous for his iconic save against Pelé suddenly suffered severe damage to the retina of his right eye in a 1972 car accident, resulting in the loss of his binocular vision. Within a year, he was compelled to retire from professional football.
Triumph at the Euros
This remarkable ability to adapt has been a blessing. Over the years, Hampton has learned to master her condition. “I had to significantly adjust my body position to keep my hands extended towards the ball. It`s truly not easy!” she revealed in a podcast some time ago. Hannah made the courageous decision to publicly disclose her visual impairments in December 2021, following her transfer to Aston Villa. “If I had heeded the doctors` initial advice, I wouldn`t have been able to play football or even pursue certain professions. But my unwavering dream was to play sports. I`ve always told younger girls that if you can`t pursue your dreams, what meaning does life truly hold?” From her early afternoons playing in the parks of Villarreal to competing in the European Championship with England (a tournament she, incidentally, already won in 2022), only a few years and a handful of broken fingers have passed. On the football pitch, her strabismus has gone unnoticed by anyone.
