Mary Earps: ‘I had used my voice – I took on a global sports giant and won’

In her new book the former England star describes how she triggered a campaign against Nike over their refusal to sell replica Lionesses goalkeeper shirts

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here were three huge talking points from the 2023 World Cup. One was the unspeakable kiss that Spain’s football federation president Luis Rubiales planted on Jenni Hermoso as she collected her gold medal, which would later lead to his resignation and prosecution.

The other two talking points both related to me.

My penalty save in the final had been viewed as heroic and, even, perfect. Even people who weren’t into football were excited about the display, praising the execution, the composure and the swearing that followed, which was celebrated by women for its passion and deliverance and criticised by others who would never have picked up on, let alone noticed it, in a man celebrating the biggest save – or any other feat – of his life