No matter how exhausted Mary Earps was after a match, she always found time to sign autographs and pose for photos with young fans.
The England women’s goalkeeper who has played a starring role in Euro 2022, first played football for West Bridgford Colts under 10s, before steadily rising through the footballing ranks, playing at Leicester City, Nottingham Forest, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Birmingham City, Bristol Academy and Reading, before joining the German club Wolfsburg.
Neil Evans, who was PA announcer at Bristol Academy’s grounds while Mary was there, tells i that Mary always got one of the biggest cheers when he announced her name, and was popular with fans and fellow players.
He strongly believes her kindhearted nature and team ethic has helped lead to her deserved glory as a footballer.
“After games, when Mary would understandably be tired and probably want nothing more than to head to the changing rooms, she would spend longer than any other player signing autographs and posing for pictures with young fans,” he says.
“The young girls just adored Mary and I am certain she will have inspired many of them to go on and play football. She was a delightful person.”
Neil, who was also Bristol Academy’s mascot Vicky the Vixen for a while, says he watched Mary warm up and train and was always struck by her confidence and the way she wasn’t afraid to take charge as a goalkeeper.
He says “Mary Queen of Stops” is a great nickname for her given her excellent goalkeeping skills.
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'Alessia Russo once scored 76 goals in a season for us, now we've 60 kids copying her backheel'30 July, 2022“Mary was very vocal and assertive and was fabulous at organising the players,” he says. “She was a really nice person off the pitch too and was good fun to be around.
“Although being a goalkeeper is a very individual position, she did not behave like she was an individual and was always part of the collective team.
“She helped and supported the younger goalkeepers and her understudies and never worried about her place being stolen as it was always about helping others and knowing it was a team game.
“The team meant everything to her and it was not about Mary Earps and that has carried on throughout her career and I think that’s why she is now playing for England.
“Goalkeepers often get blamed when things go wrong, but there’s also a lot of glory. I feel Mary deserves all the praise she is getting. It is great to see her making the most of her talent at England.”
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