Manchester City duo Lauren Hemp and Steph Houghton end 2022 with the year offering each player very different experiences, but both were keen to highlight the positive growth in the Women's game this year.
Hemp was one of the England stars that featured in every game of the European Championship triumph while Houghton, the former England captain from years 2014-2021, was left out of the squad and admitted she struggled to watch their success from home.
In the Players' Tribune, she candidly admitted watching the final but found it mentally difficult to watch the games building up to it.
The centre-back explains that 2022 has not gone her way but hopes the new year will bring with it a fresh start, she told Sky Sports News : "It's been frustrating. It's not been my best year in terms of injuries and a lot of what's gone on behind the scenes but as a professional and an athlete, it's about trying to improve as much as I can.
"When you're not playing it's the most frustrating time. But for me, it was always about proving my fitness, which I've certainly done since April and May."
Houghton started the calendar year re-aggravating her Achilles injury that she originally picked up in September 2021 against North Macedonia which resulted in risking her availability for Euros selection. While she was picked for the provisional England squad prior to the home tournament, she was dropped when the team was cut to 23 players and spent the summer in the shadows.
Since then, she has played three games in the Women's Super League alongside Alex Greenwood, Esme Morgan and Laia Aleixandri - all of whom have had more game time than the Sky Blue captain. Houghton added: "I've had a full pre-season, I'm fit and available, I've not missed a session. Ultimately, I know I'm a good professional and I know I've been there for the girls.
"If I keep showing that attitude and keep up the hard work I put in behind the scenes then good things will come, hopefully, that'll start soon."
A staple part of the club, Houghton was one of the players giving back to the community surprising local students at a coaching session at the club's training ground as part of City's ‘A time for Giving’ - City's campaign for the young people of Manchester. They pledge the gift of football to the community with 76,000 hours of free coaching while also raising money for 2023 alongside spending time with patients, nurses and doctors at local hospitals.
The 34-year-old said: "The club's raised more than £190,000 and we want to encourage people of all ages to keep playing. It's important we give back and for the club to give back to Manchester."
Whereas on complete contrast, Hemp has been centre stage in the crux for change in women’s football. The winger started every game of the Euros and was named PFA Young Player of the Year for a record fourth time.
The 22-year-old told Sky Sports News: "It's been incredible. To look back on the success we've had at the Euros and with City… if you had asked me if I expected that, then I'd have said 'no'.
"It's only a few months down the line when you can look back at what a massive achievement it was. It's been huge for women's football with record attendances ever since the Euros and long may that continue."
Hemp plays an active role in giving back to the community and is aware of the effect that the Euro triumph has had on the women’s game, from the likes of teammate Beth Mead winning BBC Sports Personality of the Year award too, she said: "We've got a platform to help get so many girls into football. The Euros inspired young boys [and] young girls to put Hemp tops on. It's great to see and long may that continue, it's important we're still inspiring post-Euros."
Especially as the build-up to the 2023 Women’s World Cup begins, she continued: "This is the start of the journey, not just the end. It's not winning it and it's done, this is the start of something and, hopefully, it's something special."
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