Debbie Bampton

Background

She played for Howbury Grange managed by her father Albert.

Career

She was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2005. In 1998 Bampton was awarded an Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of her services to women"s football as both a player and a manager. Bampton began her career at the age of 14.

In 1987 she moved to Italy, playing for Despar Trani 80 as a full–time professional alongside compatriot Kerry Davis.

She joined Arsenal Ladies in 1992, winning the treble in her first season at the club In 1994 Bampton left to become player-manager of Croydon Women.

In 2004 she joined Eastbourne Borough Ladies Football Club, a team her father Albert was coaching. She joined the coaching staff of Whitehawk Ladies in the 2006 close season, along with former Arsenal and England player Angela Banks.

In February 2008, she was manager of Whitehawk Ladies.

Bampton joined the coaching staff of Lewes Football Club Ladies in January 2009. Bampton made her England debut whilst still at school, playing against the Netherlands in September 1978. Bampton hit the winning goal in Denmark as England qualified for the 1984 European Competition for Women"s Football final.

In the second leg of the final at Kenilworth Road, Bampton scored in England"s penalty shootout defeat to Sweden.

In 1995 she controversially took over the England captaincy from Gillian Coultard and led the Three Lionesses into their first ever Fédération internationale de football association Women"s World Cup appearance that year. Bampton recalled: "lieutenant was difficult, especially as Gill and I were roommates and at that point the England squad was split.

A lot of people wanted Clare Taylor to be captain, but it was something I"d always wanted to do and so I just enjoyed lieutenant" She retained the captaincy for England"s failed 1997 Union of European Football Associations Women"s Championship qualification campaign. In May 1997 Bampton made her final England appearance in a 6–0 friendly defeat to United States in Portland.

Bampton was a tall, strong and industrious central midfielder.

I was not a natural goalscorer, but I did look to set up chances for others".

Achievements

• She was a member of the side that won the Women"s FA Cup in 1984. She spent just one season there, but won runners–up medals in both the Serie A and national Cup. In 1995-1996, Croydon won the League title and the FA Women"s Cup. Despite leaving the field after eight minutes due to injury, Bampton won her fifth FA Cup winners" medal when Croydon beat Liverpool in the 1996 final at the New Den. She won the league with Croydon twice more before leaving to join Doncaster Belles as a player in 2000 after the Croydon club moved to Charlton. During their first season as a women team they went on to win the Sussex County Cup and the League Cup, She went on to win 95 caps for England. She characterised herself as "a box-to-box player" and said "I worked hard to win the ball, and I was always looking to make forward runs.

Views

Quotations: "a box-to-box player".