After being named FIFA’s Best Female Goalkeeper, Lionesses star Mary Earps delivers a moving speech.
Earps was recognized for her incredible performances in goal for the Manchester United team and the England national team at the 2023 Women’s World Cup. She has already won numerous individual accolades in the past few months and has now developed some impressive oratory skills, which were on full display during her latest acceptance speech. The Manchester United keeper lifted the gong in London’s Apollo Theatre after receiving more votes than Australia’s Mackenzie Arnold and Spain’s Cata Coll.
“Wow, thank you very, very, very, very, very much,” Earps began amid a huge round of applause. “To be honest, last year I won the award but didn’t get in the team of the year so I thought when I’d made team of the year this was kind of me done for the night. I want to say thank you so much to my teammates who are just unbelievable. I feel incredibly privileged to get to share a pitch with you, learn from you and make so many incredible memories with you, so thank you because, without you, I would not be on this stage thank you so much.
“I’m also going to give a little shout-out to [goalkeeping coaches] Darren Ward and Ian Wilcock because they say they don’t like the little shout-outs, but they do. Thank you to all my England and [Manchester] United coaches.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Earps’ remarkable three-year journey reflects an incredible transformation in her character. From contemplating leaving football at the start of 2021 and facing contract uncertainties at Manchester United, to becoming a European champion and a World Cup finalist, it has been a roller-coaster ride for the shot-stopper. Earps’ resilience and dedication were pivotal in this evolution and the keeper urged her fans to keep speaking against injustices to make the world a better place.
“I’m just blown away,” she said. “I talk about it a lot: it has not been the easiest journey to get here – some would say I took the scenic route – and I have had to wait a long time for this kind of success. But looking back now, it all makes total sense, everything I went through. We are all humans and we all have struggles, right? But it just made me feel so much more prepared for the challenges I face today, and to able to enjoy these moments so much more and to realise how pretty unbelievable they are and to never take a single day for granted. If you’re struggling and you are going through hell, keep going. It’s never too late to be exactly who you are. I think 2023 showed us that when we come together and we speak out on injustices, we can change the world, so let’s continue to do that.”
DID YOU KNOW?
Earps has been recognised with several prestigious individual prizes, including the much-coveted BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. She has also been crowned BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year, Sportswoman of the Year at the British Sports Journalism Awards and England Women’s Player of the Year.
WHAT NEXT?
After getting some much-needed winter break relaxation, Earps was back in action against Newcastle in the FA Women’s Cup, where she kept a clean sheet in a 5-0 win. She will return to the pitch in a huge WSL clash against Chelsea this weekend before taking on Manchester City in the FA WSL Cup on January 25.
