Mary Earps: An England legacy that taught us to be unapologetically ourselves | OneFootball

Mary Earps’ recent announcement of retiring from international football shocked the world of social media, and the women’s football community as a whole.

Earps firmly cemented herself as England’s number one goalkeeper. Whether you agree with that statement or not, something you can’t deny is the mark she’s made on women’s football, both on and off the pitch.

A remarkable international career

Earps’ impact on the growth of women’s football has been extraordinary. From not giving up to earn her place in the England squad, working six part-time jobs just to be able to play football, and her career taking ‘the scenic route’, Earps is a true example of if you want something, hard work pays off.

However, it hasn’t always been plain sailing. Earps has experienced setbacks on her journey. Most prominently when she was dropped by former England manager Phil Neville in 2019, and not returning to the international stage until the Sarina Wiegman era two years later.

Once she found her place on the pitch, there was no stopping her. Earning 53 caps for England and 26 clean sheets during her international career, Earps has been a pivotal part of England’s success. Starting every match at Euro 2022, and none of us can forget the world class saves she made at the 2023 World Cup, including stopping a penalty when Spain were crowned champions in the final.

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It doesn’t stop there, either. Earps has had success at club level with VfL Wolfsburg and perhaps most recognisably Manchester United. She moved to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2024, which she described as a move to make her a better player.

An icon off the pitch

One of Earps’ most notable moments was calling out sportswear giant Nike when they failed to sell the women’s goalkeeper shirt before the 2023 World Cup, leading to a petition which gathered more than 150,000 signatures, ultimately making the brand reverse its decision.

She became the first footballer to have a waxwork figure made at Madame Tussauds, winning a public vote.

Perhaps most poignantly is her openness to speak about her mental health. Earps often uses her social media platforms to talk about the subjects she feels passionately about.

Worthy accolades along the way

Earps said that she wanted to make goalkeeping ‘cool’. If her personal accolades are anything to go by, she’s certainly done that.

She’s been crowned the FIFA Women’s Best Goalkeeper twice in 2022 and again in 2023, won the 2023 Women’s World Cup Golden Glove, and was named the BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2023. The list doesn’t stop there either.

When collecting her award at the 2023 FIFA Best Awards, she used the opportunity to talk about her own struggles with mental health, her speech being a source of inspiration to many.

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Changing the lives of thousands of women and girls

Beyond football, Earps has changed the lives of so many people. Not only has she given thousands of young girls the belief that they can play football, she’s taught them many life lessons too. One of Mary’s famous mantras is to ‘be unapologetically yourself’, reminding women and young girls that they’re okay just the way they are.

You don’t have to scroll long on social media to find a personal story of how Earps has made a mark on someone’s life. I’m one of those people whose life has been changed thanks to Mary Earps.

Writing about my own personal experiences in a piece about one of England’s superstars doesn’t feel quite right. Nevertheless, I hope it shows that Earps is far more than a presence between the sticks.

Growing up, I loved football. I enjoyed nothing more than having a ball at my feet in the garden, or having a kickabout with my friends. But when my friends had the chance of joining our school team, I was left on the sidelines. All because I’m blind.

I lost my love of the game because I felt like I didn’t belong.

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Fast forward to Euro 2022, and I found myself tuning into every single Lionesses match. Cut a long story short, that tournament reunited me with my love of football.

Following that, Mary became a huge presence in my life. Her advocacy both on the field and off it stood out to me. Her openness about her mental health got me through some difficult moments. Earps’ willingness to speak out about things that mattered to her gave me me my own drive and determination. All of that made me feel like I could be part of the football community. It made me feel like I belonged.

I’ve spent years feeling like I don’t fit in. But Mary made me realise that there’s nothing wrong with being different, and to embrace those differences.

Although she’s decided to close the book on her international career, her legacy will remain for years to come.

I’m so grateful to Mary for the advocacy, the memories, and for always standing up for what she believes in. On a personal level, I’ll forever be thankful she helped me find my love of football again. My life would be very different if it wasn’t for that pinnacle moment in 2022. She’s shaped my life in more ways than I have the words to write. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Mary.

It only feels right to finish this with the words from Mary Earps, Queen of Stops herself: “It’s never too late to be exactly who you are.”

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