Mary Earps can be England penalty hero in World Cup final, says her first club’s chairman

MARY EARPS OPEN INSTAGRAM - GOAL KEEPER
Mary Earps turning out for Bridgford Colts
ES
John Dunne @jhdunne18 August 2023

Mary Earps is England’s “rock,” the chairman of her first club said on Friday - as he tipped her to make a penalty save if called on in the final against Spain.

She started playing for Nottingham side West Bridgford Colts aged 10 and was last year crowned as the best women’s goalkeeper in the world.

Colts chairman Peter Stansford said her character as well as her reflexes and all-round goalkeeping skills made her difficult to beat.

He told the Standard: “Mary has been absolutely brilliant. She has been England’s rock and is very good under pressure. It looks so safe and secure there with her at the back.

“England can go on to win it and Mary will be a key reason for that.

“If there is a penalty I would back her to save it. She has been excellent throughout the tournament.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited the Colts’ home ground while on a visit to a Nottingham constituency just hours after England defeated Australia in the semi-final.

REUTERS

Players presented him with a Colts shirt with his daughter Anoushka’s name on the back.

However, despite her heroics Down Under, there is still no replica version of Earps goalkeeper shirt available ahead of the final.

Nike, which manufactures the the England kit, has been heavily criticised after it opted not to sell a replica shirt with Earps’ name and number, unlike other players.

A petition calling on them to have a rethink has now topped 42,000 signatures.

FA boss Mark Bullingham has waded into the issue and says a “plan is in place” for the shirt to finally go into production.

Colts secretary Julie Lazarus described Earps as a “very strong character from a young age”, adding: “She needed that to get to the level she has. It’s incredible.

“As well as her on-pitch ability, how vocal she is off it - especially taking Nike to task for not putting her replica shirt on sale before the World Cup – that’s really important. She’s happy to be a spokesperson and a role model.”

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