Shot-stopper Mary Earps has emphatically said that her newly released autobiography was not designed to “tear anyone down” and expressed concern that audience feedback has been “distorted.”
Controversial Comments and Supporters’ Disapproval
The ex-Lionesses player, who played a key role in the tournament success, faced backlash from fans and Blues coach Sonia Bompastor after making remarks about ex-colleague Hannah Hampton and manager Sarina Wiegman.
In her autobiography, Earps wrote that she told Wiegman she was “rewarding bad behaviour” by bringing Hampton back to the Lionesses lineup after leaving her out for being “unruly and inconsistent.”
“The response has been immense to see how parts were misrepresented,” Earps stated publicly.
Clarifying Her Purpose
Earps clearly stated that her memoir was not designed to damage anyone.
- “I’ve not written this book to damage reputations in any way whatsoever.”
- “That is not who I am as a person.”
- “These are real events. It has consequences. It isn’t a drama.”
She also remarked about how women’s football has entered a space that has become “somewhat similar to show business,” where personal lives are analyzed in detail for public amusement.
Dynamic with the Manager
Earps wrote about being replaced as the first-choice keeper before the European Championship and how that affected their dynamic with Wiegman.
She clarified it was “not an abrupt downfall” in their dynamic—just a difference of perspectives—and she still respects the manager.
“Certain events that occurred during that period that I wish had happened differently,” Earps stated.
Individual Difficulties
In the autobiography, Earps discussed openly the bullying she suffered at during her education, describing it as a “really hard” section to read again because it revived old wounds.
- “I couldn’t assert myself in those days.”
- “I just assumed that people were against me for a long time.”
- “I was trained to feel like nobody really cares.”
These sentiments led to anxiety episodes, and Earps revealed she struggled with physical appearance and turned to alcohol during the global health crisis to cope with anxiety and depression.
Personal Life and Future Plans
Earps openly discussed that she is in a relationship with a woman and shared her happiness about her relationship.
She also talked about her desire to be a mother and revealed she has undergone egg freezing for future use.
“I really want to be a mother and have a family of my own,” Earps stated. “I enjoy my football career, but I wish to have a child at a later stage.”
Earps portrayed the fertility process as “crazy and invasive” and called for more research tailored to players undergoing comparable treatments.
Throughout the interview, Earps maintained that she has no second thoughts about her career or personal choices, highlighting that she always acted with integrity.
