in the early career years hampson undertook his teaching training and was employed as sports master for 17 years at xavier college burke hall until moving into sports administration management role at melbourne olympic park trust. hampson came from latrobe university mid way through the 1968 season playing in the reserves premiership team against richmond he then played eight games in his first senior season with essendon and won the club's best first year player award, but a severe knee injury forced him to miss the latter half of the year and all of 1970. he returned in 1971, but could only manage two more senior games before leaving mid-season to victorian football association side northcote. hampson next played with fellow vfa team sandringham for a year before moving to suburban football. he was captain-coach of east caulfield, balwyn and edithvale-aspendale