She was key to England’s victory at the Euros, was given the freedom of her home town and even appeared in Hollyoaks.
You could say that 2022 has been a big one for football star Lauren Hemp.
But with the women’s World Cup on the horizon and her team Manchester City vying for top spot in the Women’s Super League, 2023 could well be even better.
“If you had asked me this time last year what I expected to happen over the year I probably wouldn’t have thought of half the things that have,” she said.
“It’s been pretty life-changing.”
Miss Hemp, 22, was central to the Lionesses’ success in the England-hosted UEFA Women's Euros this summer and played a memorable role in the team’s 2-1 victory over Germany in the final.
The win was the culmination of a footballing career forged through hard work and talent.
In her early years, she played for North Walsham Town FC before being picked up by Norwich City's academy programme at nine years old.
She returned to the town team for a spell aged 15 and then left home after signing with Bristol City the following year.
PE was, unsurprisingly, the former North Walsham School pupil's favourite school subject, and she remains thankful to her teachers, as well as others in the town including a former coach, Alan Wardle.
She said: “The school in general was pretty helpful and understanding of me wanting to pursue a career in football.
"Sometimes that meant missing some lessons here and there to get to training on time and things like that. They were so supportive.”
Miss Hemp said she was delighted to see how much easier it had become for girls to get into the sport.
She said: “When I was younger I had to play in a boys’ team, North Walsham boys. But now there’s a girls' team running, with so many different age groups.
“Even in the last five years, that’s changed dramatically.”
Miss Hemp said moving away from Norfolk was “pretty daunting to begin with” but turned out to be one of the best decisions of her life.
“It was pretty nerve-wracking at the time," she said. "But over the years it’s helped so much with how I am now as a person, not only as a player.”
Miss Hemp first played for England Under-17s in 2016 and has played for Manchester City since 2018.
She said being awarded the ‘freedom of the town of North Walsham’ after the Euros win was a huge surprise - especially when she saw the hundreds of proud fans who had turned out in support.
“I expected it to just be my family there and maybe a couple of others," she said. "When I got there the whole street was packed full of people.
“It just felt so special.
“When you’re involved in the Euros, you don’t think about how many people have watched it and how many people are supporting you and wanting you to do well.”
She hopes to be a part of the squad off to the Fifa Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in July and August, and is confident the Lionesses can take the fight to other top teams such as Sweden, Spain and the United States.
“With the players that we’ve got we’re capable of all sorts, and I believe we can go all the way," she said. "It starts with belief and being consistent in everything we do.
“With City, I want to win trophies. That’s why I’m at the club and that's what I strive towards.
"There are so many trophies you can get in the second half of the season, and that’s what makes the games so much more special.
“So I’m hoping to be successful at both club and country.”
Miss Hemp praised the England men’s performance at the World Cup in Qatar, losing to reigning champions France in the quarter-finals. She said: “They’ve done the nation proud and I’m proud to be English watching them play.
“Every year the competition gets tougher but the amount of depth they have in the squad is fantastic.”
Hollyoaks: From the stadium to the small screen
Appearing in one of her favourite television shows, the long-running Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks, was another dream come true for Miss Hemp.
She said the offer of a role on the show in August came “out of the blue” after the Lionesses’ Euros victory.
Miss Hemp played herself becoming a guest coach of the local football team.
She said: “I’ve been a massive Hollyoaks fan since I was younger.
“They mentioned us winning the Euros on one of the shows. I reposted it on Instagram and the next thing you know they’re asking me to do a bit in the show.
“I was like, 100pc I will.
"I spent the day there, had a tour around the set, did a little bit of acting, or tried to. It was good, and that was something off the bucket list.
"I don’t think I’d like to be an actor full-time, but it’s nice now and again.”
After the episode aired, Miss Hemp joked on Twitter: “When are the BAFTAs? Asking for a friend."
Christmas: A favourite time of year
After such a busy year, Miss Hemp said she was looking forward to unwinding over the Christmas period and spending time with family and friends in Norfolk.
She said: “We don’t actually get that much time off in general across the whole year so it’s nice to go back for a couple of weeks to switch off from football.
“It’s been an incredible year and sometimes you don’t really appreciate what’s happened until you sit down and think about it.
“I do the same thing I do every Christmas Day, go around to my nana’s or she’d come over to us. I think getting together with the family is what makes it so special.”
Ms Hemp said her favourite Christmas song was Underneath the Tree by Kelly Clarkson, and it had become a family tradition to watch the festive film, Nativity!
She said pigs in blankets and Yorkshire pudding were her favourite parts of Christmas dinner.
“I think it’s my mum’s turn to cook this year,” she added.
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