There is no doubt in Hannah Hampton’s mind that she would not be the goalkeeper she is today if it wasn’t for her older brother Ben.

Two years her senior, growing up the siblings were inseparable. They grew even closer upon moving to Spain, which is where Hannah’s football journey began.

With neither of them knowing the language when they arrived in their new home, the Hampton siblings only had each other. And football, of course.

‘It was just nice being able to spend time with my brother doing something that we both loved,’ Hannah says. ‘And that was sports.’

An attacker at the time, Hannah would go up against Ben who played as a defender. When she became a goalkeeper once back in England, it was still her older brother who she would practice with and he’d teach her new skills.

Ben then took up hockey, a sport in which he also excelled. He was on the England pathway– something that inspired Hannah. She just wanted to be like her big brother.

And he knew she could get there. Even when Hannah didn’t believe that yet, her older brother always did. It’s why Ben made his own sacrifices to help his sister’s pursuit of football’s dizzy heights.

‘He would always push my parents to take me to wherever I needed to go over himself when we were younger,’ Hannah explains. ‘Even as we got older, he gave up hockey and helped me get further with my football.

‘People don’t realise how much families have to sacrifice, especially siblings. When you both play sports and your parents sometimes have to decide between you, there is a lot Ben had to deal with.

‘If there were times when I didn’t think I would go very far or have much belief in myself, Ben was the one person who I could speak to and would push me to keep going.

‘I’m very grateful for everything that he’s done for me from a young age to now. He helped me achieve my dream.’

Ben is still a pillar of support and a source of guidance to Hannah. That is felt no matter where they are in the world, with Hannah travelling due to football and Ben because of his job in the army.

As we chat, Hannah provides an example. She pulls up a text from Ben after our first win of the Women’s Super League season against Aston Villa.

And although Johanna Rytting Kaneryd scored the match-winning goal, the Blues goalkeeper certainly played her part in claiming the three points. Two phenomenal saves in the dying stages ensured a victory on the opening day of the new campaign.

Those saves certainly got Ben’s seal of approval.

‘It’s special the times he does get to come to games and that makes me want to push on even further and go as far as I possibly can,’ Hannah adds. ‘I know he is watching from wherever he is in the world.

‘I think the first game he came to at Chelsea was when we played at home against West Ham last year. It was the first time he had seen me play in person in years.

‘He’s always given me the belief that I wouldn’t have given myself. He knew that if I wanted to that I could get wherever I wanted.

‘There have been so many times when I felt like things were too hard or questioning things and I’ve called Ben. It might be like 11 at night and Ben would speak sense to me.’

With Hannah having reached the level Ben always knew she could, what is the best moment of her career thus far that they have shared together?

One occasion which stands out to Hannah is when her brother finally got the chance to watch her play for England. When she came on as a substitute against France this summer, it was the first time Ben was in the crowd watching his sister play for the Lionesses.

‘Knowing all the sacrifices he made to help me get where I am, we always had the same dream as each other,’ Hannah says. 'We both wanted me to play for England.

‘It was really special to have him there.’

But, for Hannah, the proudest moment did not take place on a football pitch. Nor did it have anything to do with the sport, other than Hannah getting the day off from training at Cobham.

‘The most special moment wasn’t on the pitch,’ Hannah adds. ‘Last year, Emma Hayes let me have the day off training to go to Ben’s army passing out. That is the most special moment.

‘He has done so much for me over the years, so to be there on his day and to be able celebrate with him was really special.’

Now a WSL winner and an eight-cap England international at only 23 years old, what does Ben think about Hannah's career?

‘He’s just proud,’ Hannah answers.

He certainly should be.