Lauren Hemp says an "incredible" 2022 is only beginning to sink in as she takes some time off during the WSL winter break.
Hemp, 22, was one of the standout performers as the Lionesses brought football home in the summer, winning Euro 2022 after a 2-1 victory over Germany in a memorable final at Wembley. Over a memorable 2022 she also won the PFA Young Player of the Year for a fourth time and helped her club Manchester City recover after a slow start to the WSL season.
The forward spent much of November recovering from injury but managed to win her race against time to be fit for the Manchester derby, where City earned a point after a 1-1 draw. With domestic women's football now breaking a month over Christmas and the New Year, Hemp is finally able to breathe and reflect on the most memorable year of her career so far.
"Looking back it has been such an incredible year," Hemp told Mirror Football . "And I've loved every second of it.
"But for us as players we've been non-stop, we had the Euros in the summer and then we were straight back into club football. Now we're able to have a couple of weeks off from playing, I can spend some time with my family.
"I think it's only now that I'm actually able to sit back and reflect on this year. When we went straight into club football, I don't think we could really process what had happened over the summer.
"I think now I sort of realise how much that (winning Euro 2022) has done for women's football and how much the game has come on in the last 12 months.
"You don't think about it when you are just focusing on playing, but then at the (Manchester derby) the other day there were so many supporters there, it's times like that when it really sinks in.
"Just seeing young girls and boys with your name on the back of their shirts is great to see. It makes a massive difference."
After having to withdraw from the final England camp of the year due to a thigh injury, there were doubts Hemp would appear again in 2022. But she successfully completed her comeback to play 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with local rivals Man United in the final game before the break.
City had a tough start to the season, losing back-to-back away games at Aston Villa and defending champions Chelsea. But they fought back with a 10-game unbeaten run in all competitions, now sitting fourth in the league and safely into the last eight of the League Cup.
And Hemp is determined to make sure City's recovery continues when they resume their campaign in January 2023, with their first game a trip to West Ham.
"I feel like I am getting better as a player," Hemp said. "The team are now doing well, we've picked up a load of wins and are in a strong position.
"We're unbeaten in 10 games, so we're going into the New Year with a lot of confidence. We're in a really good place.
"I'm playing with some really talented people at the moment as well, which helps. With my game it's just about being even more consistent in what I do and working a little bit on my shooting.
"The staff here are always pushing me and I know I'm capable of getting even better and want to do that in the New Year."
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