SOUTH Warwickshire played not one, but two starring roles in England’s Euro 2025 success.
Defender Jess Carter, who grew up in Barford, and goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, from Studley, were among the stars of Sarina Wiegman’s side who won a dramatic penalty shoot-out against reigning world champions Spain to retain the trophy they lifted four years ago.
Jess, who started her football life playing for Warwick Juniors, was a colossus at the heart of the England defence, while Hannah, was the hero of the hour as she saved two penalties.
The nail-biting shoot out, which the Lionesses won 3-1, followed a tightly fought match which saw England come from behind once again. At the end of extra time the score was 1-1 and it was down to penalties.
It was then that Hannah stepped up to keep out spot kicks from Mariona Caldentey and FIFA Women’s Player of the Year Aitana Bonmati.
And when Chloe Kelly slammed home the winning kick for England it sparked wild celebrations among the players, manager, back room staff, the thousands of fans in the stadium in Basal, and the millions watching at home.
For Jess it marked a joyous end to what had been a difficult tournament in Switzerland after becoming the target of racist abuse on social media.
After the match she admitted she had been “scared” to play in the final after being brought back into the side, having been left out of the semi-final against Italy for tactical reasons.
The 27-year-old, who currently plays her club football in the USA, told TV reporters: “I was super scared to play today for the first time in my life, but when I woke up and I saw my team, and the support I had and the belief I had from my team-mates, my family and my manager. I knew I could just come out and give it my all. That’s all you can do.”
Any nerves she may have had certainly did not show in her superb performance, and Jess was quick to thank everyone for the support she had received which gave her the “courage” to play following the online abuse.
“The support I felt from the fans was incredible. I can’t thank them enough because without the fans, my team-mates and my family, I don’t know if I’d have every had the courage to back on the pitch and play again.
“Everyone of those fans, I’m not ever going to be able to show my thanks enough, but they have been incredible, and I hope they will continue to cheer on the Lionesses every single day.”
Hannah, who played every minute of every game during the tournament and who also made crucial penalty saves against Sweden at the quarter-final stage, was ecstatic.
The 24-year-old Chelsea stopper, speaking minutes after the drama ended, said: “It’s been unbelievable, incredible. We’ve shown during this tournament that we can come back when we go a goal down, we have that grit, we’ve got English blood in us.
“We never say die and we just keep going and we did that today.”
The Lionesses celebrated their historic UEFA Women’s Euros triumph with fans at a homecoming open top bus celebration through central London on Tuesday.
The Football Association is continuing to work with authorities to track down those responsible for the abusive posts aimed at Jess.
