20 Questions with Hannah Hampton

1) What’s your earliest memory?

I remembering being about four and I was on the side of the pitch while my brother played tag rugby. I had this inflatable football and I was moaning at my parents that I couldn’t kick it around. I eventually gave up, got bored and of course ended up kicking it onto the pitch, which got me in trouble. That’s why they didn’t want me to play in the first place.

2) If you could go back in time to any period, where would you go?

There are a few places I’d want to go back to actually, that’s a great question. I’ll say something in my lifetime. When I was young in Spain, my first ever football session with Villarreal because of the beaming smile I had on my face when I was playing the sport I loved.

3) What do you like most about yourself?

These are difficult questions! I like how caring I am for everyone. I always like to see how well people are doing and celebrate their successes. I do care for everyone. Probably a bit too much.

4) What is your biggest achievement?

It can’t really get bigger than making my debut for England, right?

5) What’s your worst habit?

Overthinking. That’s a bad one.

6) What makes you most angry?

When people say one thing and do the opposite. Oh, that annoys me. It annoys me so much. That’s my biggest pet peeve. 100%.

7) Who is your biggest influence?

My brother, definitely. He got to a high level playing hockey for England. I saw how proud it made all the family and I wanted to have the same fulfilment. It got to the point where I was doing my football and Ben actually stopped playing hockey to help coach me to get to a higher level. The fact he gave up his sport to do that really meant a lot to me. He’s now doing what he loves to do, serving in the army.

8) How do you react under pressure?

I love it, yeah. I always have a smile on my face and I’ve actually found I play my best football because I enjoy it so much.

9) When do you feel most at ease?

If I’m switching off I do like to play the piano. I find that quite therapeutic and it just completely takes your mind off things. I also enjoy hanging around with friends or a good movie.

10) What do you dream about when you sleep?

I had a weird dream when we were in Madrid for the Champions League but I can’t remember what it was. I came down and said to the girls, ‘You’ll never guess what my dream was last night’ and it’s usually the most weird and wacky thing. They’re always funny, everyone laughs their head off.

11) What is your favourite phrase or word?

I don’t know if I have a certain word but everyone always says there are certain things that bring out my Brummie accent. I try not to show off my accent too much but when I say something like ‘come on love’ it always brings it out.

12) Where do you consider home?

I loved every single minute growing up in Spain. Not saying I don’t love it in England but as a family Spain was amazing. We relied on each other so much because we only spoke English. My parents, my brother and myself. We were the only ones who spoke English where we were and it’s the reason we’re still so close now. We now speak Spanish together sometimes and it takes us back to being out there.

13) Are you superstitious?

I always like to be the last one to put on my shirt after a warm up. It’s mainly because it takes me so long to get ready after coming in because I have to do a complete kit change. I ended up always being the last one and a few people picked up on it. From then on it became my thing.

14) What makes you cry?

A good movie, an emotional movie. It makes me cry if I see people doing well. I’m an emotional wreck, honestly.

15) Which song makes you feel good?

One I’ve been playing a lot recently is You Get What You Give by New Radicals. I’m pretty open with music but the one thing I can’t deal with is heavy metal. Like, no.

16) What is your biggest obstacle?

Probably self-belief or self-confidence. I’m trying to build that by gaining it from the outside, seeing what people think of you. But it’s definitely a thing that’s caused me problems.

17) What is your favourite place in the world?

Back in Spain where I grew up.

18) What is your most valuable possession?

Probably a necklace from my grandmother, who passed. It was the chain she always wore, I have a cross on it and it was her wedding ring melted down. And then my other grandparents gave me a charm to put on it, which is like a charm for safe travels.

19) What is your worst fear?

I hate spiders. I hate clowns. Those are the two that stand out. If there’s a spider I will 100% leave the room and I won’t go back in until I know it’s been caught.

20) How would you like to be remembered?

As a fun, enthusiastic person who cares for everybody and wants them to do well Someone who’s happy for everyone’s successes.