Kaitlyn Clark was told she would never play football due to her visual impairment, but thanks to watching her England Euro 2025 hero Hannah Hampton – who lives with the same condition – she has pushed ahead.
The 20-year-old is now a Para Lioness and has represented England in the Women’s Blind Football Team, despite being told she was not good enough by scouts while growing up.
“It was like a dagger to the heart,” she told BBC Radio WM, who arranged a surprise meeting with her hero.
When the BBC contacted Hampton, from Birmingham, she said she was “angered” by her story and wanted to meet Ms Clark to show her support.
According to the NHS, strabismus is a condition where the eyes point in different directions – a visual impairment both Hampton and Ms Clark were diagnosed with at a young age.
She said: “Football has been a massive part of my life over the last 10 years.
“Hannah shows that you can reach the highest level even with a disability. She’s an inspiration to never stop dreaming.”
At the age of 17, Ms Clarke began representing England in blind football.
She told the BBC: “I started playing when I was nine and then was in and out of teams because they always thought I wasn’t good enough.
“I’d get scouted by teams; they’d watch me play and want me, then they’d find out I had a visual impairment and say they didn’t want me.
“It made me quite angry; I don’t let my visual impairment get in my way.”
Ms Clark was playing for Southampton Football Club’s Para team, which included blind players, when an England scout invited her for trials for the team’s visually impaired squad.
“It was quite shocking; I’d always been rejected by teams and then England come knocking on your door.
“It was overwhelming. You’re a little girl from Southampton kicking a ball around to playing for your home country.”