Former England women’s national football team goalkeeper Mary Earps has opened up on the fallout from her autobiography, admitting the intense reaction taught her “tough lessons” both personally and professionally.
The book, released last year, sparked widespread debate after Earps claimed head coach Sarina Wiegman had rewarded Hannah Hampton’s “bad behaviour” by recalling the Chelsea goalkeeper to the England squad.
In the months that followed, Hampton went on to overtake Earps as England’s No.1, a shift that ultimately led the former Manchester United Women keeper to retire from international football just weeks before last summer’s Euros.
Speaking now with hindsight, Earps says she better understands why the reaction was so strong.
She has since held what she described as a “positive conversation” with Wiegman and believes time and distance have brought clarity.
“That was kind of my first rodeo with ‘cancel culture’, and 0 out of 10 – would not recommend to other people,” Earps told The Guardian. “I take full responsibility for the book and the things that happened around the book.
“I took some time out to really reflect on the whole situation and there were clearly things that I could have done better.
“There were some tough lessons learned. I’m human. I’m not perfect, I’m still learning. I’m still growing as a person. I want to use those lessons going forward.”
Now continuing her club career with Paris Saint-Germain Women, Earps admitted her perspective has shifted significantly.
“Ultimately, now I’ve had some time and distance from it, I can understand it [the backlash].
“Now I can see things for what they are. [At the time] it felt like: ‘All right, I’m retiring internationally and then I go on to the next thing.’
“And it felt like the next natural progression [to write the book] but I think I had my blinkers on. Now, with time, I’m more removed from it, I can see it, for sure.”
Having missed out on a winners’ medal in Switzerland, Earps is clearly still processing a turbulent chapter of her career.
Yet as she looks ahead, the former England No.1 insists those hard-earned lessons will shape how she moves forward: both on and off the pitch.
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