Mary Earps Reflects on Book Controversy and England Fallout
Mary Earps has moved to clarify the significant backlash that emerged from her book last year, which ignited major controversy within women's football. The former England goalkeeper's comments about Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman and teammate Hannah Hampton, who eventually replaced her as first choice, sparked widespread debate and left Earps initially stunned by the reaction.
Taking Responsibility for the Fallout
In a candid admission, Earps stated that the backlash was "a consequence of my own actions", though she initially struggled to comprehend why she faced such intense criticism. Her book detailed frustrations with the goalkeeper situation, questioning Wiegman's decision-making and suggesting that disruptive behavior had been rewarded, with Hampton having been dropped previously. This perspective was seen by many as a failure to accept the evolving team dynamics, especially as Hampton went on to help England win another European Championship on penalties, while Earps had announced her retirement just weeks before the tournament.
Earps told The Telegraph: "It was a pretty difficult time but, ultimately, it was a consequence of my own actions. I take full responsibility and accountability for the book, the decisions and how it landed and all those kinds of things, that’s on me. It’s my name and it’s my face on the front of it."
Emotional Writing and Personal Growth
Reflecting on the period, Earps acknowledged that she was speaking emotionally while writing parts of the book, which made the subsequent reaction challenging to handle. She even teared up during an interview with TalkSport as she emphasized her respect for Wiegman. When asked if she now understands the backlash, Earps responded: "Now I can, for sure. Back then, I’ll be honest, I couldn’t. I was in this headspace of like, ‘I don’t get it, why are we only talking about this and this?’ Now I can, after really deeply looking inwards."
This experience prompted a period of deep reflection for Earps, involving tough conversations with those around her and a focus on self-improvement. She added: "Mostly I looked at myself. I look back to that time and I feel in a completely different space now. I’m not a perfect person, I’m still learning and growing as a human being. You either evolve or repeat. I look back and I have to be accountable for the things that I know I could have done better."
Lessons Learned and Moving Forward
Earps highlighted the importance of accepting feedback and backlash, stating: "I can’t control other things, but there are things that I can control that I could have done better. There were some really tough life lessons learnt. It’s about re-prioritising, accepting the feedback, accepting the backlash and taking that on the chin." Her journey underscores a broader narrative of personal accountability and growth in the face of public scrutiny, as she navigates the aftermath of her controversial literary release and its impact on her relationships within the Lionesses squad.
