Due to her visual impairment, Kaitlyn Clark was told she would never play football, but now that she has seen her England Euro 2025 hero Hannah Hampton, who also has the same condition, continue.
Despite being told by scouts that she was not good enough, the 20-year-old is now a Para Lioness and plays for England on the Women’s Blind Football Team.
She told BBC Radio WM, who set up a surprise meeting with her hero, that it was “like a dagger to the heart.”
A visual condition where the eyes point in different directions, as described by the NHS, Hampton and Ms. Clark were both diagnosed with at a young age.
Over the past ten years, football has been a significant part of my life, she continued.
Hannah demonstrates that anyone with a disability can reach their full potential. She serves as a constant reminder of her dreams.
Ms. Clarke started playing blind football for England when she was 17 years old.
She explained to the BBC, “I started playing when I was nine, and then I started playing when other teams thought I wasn’t good enough.”
“I would be scouted by teams, they would watch me play and get interested in me, and they would later discover that I had a visual impairment and say they didn’t want me.”
I don’t let my visual impairment get in the way of my anger, which made me quite angry.
When an England scout invited Ms Clark to trials for the team’s visually impaired squad, she was playing for Southampton Football Club’s Para team, which included blind players.
“I’d always been turned down by teams, and England knocks on your door,” I thought.
“Unbelievable accomplishment”
Ms. Clark was taken aback when her hero, who saved two penalties to keep England in the top 2025 championship last month, entered the studio during her interview with BBC Radio WM.
There are so many things we had to put up with as we grew up with visual impairments, Hampton said, “I’m right around the corner, so I thought I couldn’t not]meet her] and my whole story is to go out and try to inspire people.”
The Lioness claimed that their situation did not make them unique in comparison to other football players.
She continued, “To hear your story was just incredible.
I appreciate your continued support of football and don’t let anyone turn you off.
Not many people can say that they represented their country, but just keep that dream alive, which is an incredible accomplishment in itself.
We are the same as everyone else, so hearing your story made me angry. We are humans, we have feelings, and we must continue to do so if it brings happiness.
Following the interview, Ms. Clark shared a message on Facebook.
Source: BBC
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