Lauren Hemp had already given Noelle Maritz the costumery run around by the time she set up the opening goal in Manchester City’s clash with Arsenal last month. With just a single touch, Hemp left the Swiss international in her tracks. A quick glance across the box and she spotted the run of Bunny Shaw, her prolific Jamaican teammate. Hemp’s low cross found its intended target and Shaw found the back of the net with a neat finish. In just a split-second Hemp, along with some inadvertent assistance from the referee, had just tipped the game into Manchester City’s favour.
That’s become the norm at the Academy Stadium this season as the England international has stepped up to become THE player for the Sky Blues. Her consistent performances have stood in stark contrast to her side’s rollercoaster form.
Whilst City got off to their worst start in WSL history, it could have been much more problematic had Hemp been struck with the same injury curse that had been cast on many of her world-class teammates. And, if injuries have been the antagonist in Manchester City’s season, Hemp has been the protagonist who has saved the blue side of Manchester on multiple occasions whilst they were fielding a side built mainly on members of their supporting cast.
The 21-year-old was so often the remedy that cured Manchester City’s woes during their sickest period of form. Perhaps that should come as no surprise given that she shares her surname with the hemp plant, which is known worldwide for its healing qualities.
In front of goal, Hemp has been their most prolific player. Her five goals and two assists from 12 league games, tops the squad’s scoring charts. Amongst those, she has scored some vital goals, like her equaliser against Birmingham which kick-started City’s comeback against one of the league’s strugglers.
If you were to take away her goals and assists City would be in eighth place, three points worse off than they are in an already disappointing season. But, to strip her down to just her goal contributions, which are plentiful, seems a bit reductive.
What sets Hemp apart from most is that she possesses the most invaluable trait in football; the ability to change the game in an instant.
She has that ‘blink and you’ll miss her’ kind of speed, reminiscent of a cheetah racing across the plains of Africa in search of its next meal, or in Hemp’s case her next chance at goal.
That very attribute was what City depended upon during the first half of this season when the bulk of their squad were on the shelf. ‘Give the ball to Hemp and let her run’ seemed to be the message Taylor was giving his players.
It can be tempting to abuse the cheat code that is her pace to gain territory up the field. But sometimes, when she’s in full flow, she’ll take an extra touch when she can take a shot or lay off a teammate.
But that’s what makes Hemp box office. When she gets the ball, you shuffle forward to the edge of your seat and hang on every touch. Every twist. Every turn. Her assist against Reading last season, which helped them clinch a 1-0 win, is a prime example of this.
She zig-zagged through a sea of Royals defenders, leaving them like victims of medusa, before setting up Chloe Kelly for a simple tap in at the back post.
It’s dribbling like that which was earned Hemp the reputation of being one of the most exciting players in the league, if not the world. She averages 8.09 dribbles per 90 minutes, the highest in the league at the time of writing. But what sets her even further apart from the rest is her success rate. Hemp marauds down the wing with such ease that 65% of the time she’s infallible.
Her importance was highlighted further in City’s 1-0 loss to Chelsea last week. The WSL champions managed to restrict her for much of the game through some excellent teamwork by Jess Carter and Jessie Fleming. The pair were forced to double up on the winger to prevent her from doing Lauren Hemp things, which in itself is a sign of real respect from her opposition.
At 21, the Norfolk born winger is already a vital component for Manchester City and, as she continues to grow, so will her importance to the club. That’s why it was critically important that the club tied her down to a new deal. Last month the Olympian penned a new contract that will keep her at the Academy Stadium until 2024.
“I’m not the finished product,” she said after singing her new deal with the Citizens. “I’m still really young and I’m still learning every day.” Her comments offer a glimpse into the character she is.
Despite having her name has been engraved on the PFA Young Player of the Year award three times, twice more than any other player, Hemp isn’t willing to settle. She wants to be the best, which is usually the most frightening mentality for any young player. And she’s more than capable of reaching those aims.
In Hemp, Manchester City has a player they can build the team around for years to come just as their neighbours across town, Manchester United, have in Ella Toone. While the Sky Blues star youngster may not have grown up in the stands of their stadium, she does epitomise everything Manchester City are striving towards. A young talent who’s eager to win things with style.
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