The 23-year-old returned to Cobham last week raring to go as our first week of pre-season training got underway. That she did so wearing a replica of our 1998 home shirt did not go unnoticed.

Hampton says the Blues faithful can decide whether or not she is Proper Chels. But as the England international explains, she was only continuing a look that had served her well throughout the summer.

‘I’m just blue through and through,’ she says. ‘I thought if I couldn’t wear my retro shirt for the first day of pre-season when could I wear it?

‘I took it on holiday with me and was wearing it around the streets of Spain, the streets of Crete, everywhere! I love it. Blue is definitely my colour.’

With the first week of pre-season completed, Hampton is delighted to be back working with the Chelsea teammates she celebrated so much success with during her debut campaign.

Hampton, now a Women’s Super League winner, is happy to get back to business, although with a few laughs and jokes sprinkled into the intense sessions on the grass.

‘I was just excited to see everyone again,’ she explains. ‘It’s not the same just doing your pre-season programme at home alone.

‘When you come in and see everyone, it gives you that extra bit of energy to crack on again. Being around everyone, you can see how together are already even just from a week back.

‘I like coming back and seeing everyone. I come in and have a laugh and joke with people, and try to bring enjoyment off the pitch. It’s good to have a laugh and ease everyone in!’

Hampton is someone who sets high expectations of herself. She has always sought to drive her own standards, and this pre-season has been no different.

And with new head coach Sonia Bompastor at the helm, the shot-stopper is even more determined to take her game to the next level.

‘The conversations I’ve had with Sonia, Cammi [Abily] and Theo [Rivrin] so far – you definitely know their standards are high, so that matches how I feel,’ Hampton added. ‘It pushes me to be better and it will push everyone in the team to be better.

‘You want to hit the ground running and show what you can do. I want to focus on myself, play the style Sonia wants us to play, and build back up those connections with the team on the pitch.

‘If that puts me in a good spot then it puts me in a good spot. I just want to enjoy what I do. I’ve always said that when I’m enjoying what I do that’s when I am going to play my best.’

It's not only Bompastor, Abily and Rivrin who are new to Chelsea’s coaching staff. Hampton has also been working under newly-appointed goalkeeping coach Seb Brown and his assistant Dan Smith.

While Smith is new to the club, Brown is somebody Hampton knows well having moved to the women’s team permanently after working with the WSL academy – a role which also saw him assist former coach Stuart Searle.

‘Seb is great,’ Hampton said. ‘He was with us last year and has stepped up to be our head goalkeeper coach now.

‘I worked closely with him last year, especially during the first four months when I wasn’t involved as much in the squad. I was developing a lot with Seb on the side then, so we’ve got a good understanding of each other.

‘With Dan and the experience he has, I’m sure he will make a great addition to our goalkeeping department. He’s already fitting in well and there have been a few laughs and jokes.

‘We’re all just pushing each other to be the best and helping everyone improve.’

Hampton and the rest of the squad will showcase their hard work under Bompastor and the new staff when we travel on our pre-season tour of the USA.

The first game of our new head coach’s era will see us take on NJ/NY Gotham at the Red Bull Arena, before we face Arsenal in Washington DC, taking our London derby Stateside.

‘It’ll be a good time for us to implement the style of play,’ Hampton said. ‘It’s during those two games when we can get to know each other like that a lot better.

‘We can build those connections. It’ll be two tough games against top opponents. It’s definitely going to help us go in the right direction and make sure we are ready to kick on when the season starts.