Mary Earps has been voted BBC‘s Women’s Footballer of the Year, making history as the first goalkeeper honoured and capping a star-studded 2023 for the Lionesses goalkeeper.
The 30-year-old has been honoured with a raft of awards for her contributions for both her country and for Manchester United, who she helped finish second in last year’s Women’s Super League table.
Earps was previously named Women’s Goalkeeper at FIFA’s The Best awards in 2022, before being named England Women’s Player of the Year in September following Sarina Wiegman‘s side’s promising but ultimately unsuccessful World Cup campaign.
The shot-stopper won the Golden Glove in Australia in the wake of the summer’s tournament in Australia, just weeks after winning the honour in the WSL.
The England international was also feted at this year’s GQ Men of the Year awards, alongside peers including Spanish midfielder Jennifer Hermoso, and Wrexham’s Paul Mullin.
England’s goalkeeper Mary Earps has been voted BBC’s Women’s Footballer of the Year
The 30-year-old has had an ascendant year with both her country and with Manchester United
Earps won the Golden Glove at this year’s World Cup, and was later feted at GQ’s Men of the Year awards (right)
‘I am truly honoured,’ Earps told BBC Sport. ‘To be the first keeper to get their hands on the award is special, and I am incredibly grateful.’
On the shortlist alongside international talents including this year’s Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati and Chelsea’s Sam Kerr, who finished second and third in the voting respectively, Earps believed that she was unlikely to end up securing the top spot.
‘To be honest, I thought Bonmati might take it. I mean, what a player,’ Earps added, before referencing the furore around Nike’s delayed sales of her England goalkeeper jersey.
‘There has been a lot that has happened this year. Obviously, we’ve had the World Cup. We’ve had all that’s gone on with the goalkeeper shirts. I’ve had the whole goalkeeper union behind me, it seemed like.
‘Not even just that, just incredible support from the public and many people,’ the player continued.
Nike came under fire for not producing England goalkeeper shirts ahead of July’s World Cup, and later offered a tepid statement which hinted that the jerseys would be on sale imminently after an enormous wave of demand as England raced through the group stages.
Two months after the tournament’s conclusion, Nike put the shirts on sale – but fans ensured the first run were initially sold out within hours, prompting Earps to share her gratitude with supporters on social media.
Earps’ popularity as a figure within the England set-up saw scores of fans sell-out her jersey
Barcelona’s Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati came second in the voting – which was open to the public
Chelsea captain Sam Kerr came third in the standings after a white-hot season for the Blues
Writing on Instagram Stories, Earps said: ‘Didn’t realise these were going onsale today. And you’ve sold them out already! More are coming before the end of the year and in more sizes (kids and adults) so stay tuned!
‘Thank you all for your incredible support on this. You guys have made this happen!’
Earps added that she was ‘just trying to make the most of everything’ in the wake of her resurgent career only a few years after being frozen out of the England side.
‘I try to use my story as a beacon of hope for people – to show that there are better days coming,’ Earps added.
‘You just have to keep going and keep fighting. That looks very different to different people – everyone has their own battles and their own stories.
‘I think what is incredible is how many people have reached out to me and shared their own stories through that. It’s been really great. Long may it continue.’
The player was sidelined between November 2019 and September 2021 – an experience she said she ‘wouldn’t wish on anyone’ – but has since become a lynchpin under Wiegman.
The head coach offered her congratulations upon Earps’ receipt of the award, adding: ‘you’re not done yet. You have to keep going – get some more’.
Earps was also congratulated by Fara Williams and Peter Schmeichel, with Earps singling out the legendary Man United keeper’s praise as particularly special.
In February, Earps picked up the Women’s Goalkeeper award at FIFA’s The Best ceremony
After winning the 2022 European Championships with England, Earps has seen her career go from strength to strength
‘That is really special, I’m a bit shocked by that,’ Earps said of the messages. ‘It is incredible to hear those things. I think as British people, we don’t always express the way we celebrate things sometimes. I don’t think we’re always that forthcoming, so to hear words like that from incredible people and what they’ve all achieved is unbelievable. That means a great deal.
‘(Schmeichel) is right. It (major awards) doesn’t often go to the goalkeepers. I think that is what is really special about hearing those messages from goalkeepers, or having the support of the goalkeepers’ union.
‘I suppose we’re all really rooting for the other goalkeepers to do well. So yeah, that is really nice! Obviously he has got a fantastic legacy in general, but also at the club, so that’s really special.’
Earps is the fourth British player to win the award, behind England team-mates Lucy Bronze and Beth Mead and Arsenal captain Kim Little.
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