It’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year time again and as the bookies have it at the moment, Lionesses star Mary Earps is odds on favourite to win the award this time around.
The England and Manchester United Women‘s goalkeeper has had a truly remarkable year, there’s no denying that, and has already swept up several other trophies and personal accolades over the past 18 months, let alone 12, so it’s no wonder she’s leading the race for Sports Personality of the Year as well.
Having recently added the BBC’s Women’s Footballer of the Year Award to her collection just last month, the news outlet and public service broadcaster has already made it clear how much of an impact she has had in her field this year and we all know how much of an icon she became this summer.
With that in mind, as per Oddschecker, various other comparison sites and pretty much every betting site in the country, bookmakers are tipping Earps as the favourite to win the Sports Personality of the Year for 2023. Just ‘Big Mearps’ things.
Earps is the current favourite to win Sports Personality of the Year.
Virtually every site we can find has the 30-year-old shot-stopper as a shoo-in for this year’s award, with gambling brand Betfair listing her as the 1/10 favourite to win yet another token of recognition from the BBC in the space of just a few weeks.
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With the full list of nominees revealed on Tuesday, the other names who made the shortlist for Sports Personality of the Year include legendary jockey Frankie Dettori, Irish golfer Rory McIlroy and England cricketer Stuart Broad, who is boasting the next best odds behind Mary Earps.
Having retired from the game following the Ashes this past July, he called it quits after becoming England’s second-leading Test bowler with 604 wickets to his name and is widely considered to be one of the best the country has ever produced — the award would be a fitting sign-off to a sparkling career.
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You can see the rest of the names in line to win it down below.
The BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2023 contenders…
🌟 Stuart Broad 🌟 Frankie Dettori 🌟 Mary Earps 🌟 Alfie Hewett 🌟 Katarina Johnson-Thompson 🌟 Rory McIlroy
However, it’s hard to overstate just how much impact Mary Earps has had not only in women’s football but across sports in general, not only giving the nation one of the best sporting memories ever with that incredible penalty save in the Women’s World Cup final, but going far beyond that as a public figure.
Having taken on Nike following their refusal to manufacture women’s keeper kits and winning, with her replica jersey selling out almost instantly, the Nottingham-born athlete stood up not only for fellow players in her position but the women’s game in general, having inspired countess youngsters to get into football ever since the Euros.
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We’d be happy to see any of the names on this year’s list of BBC Sports Personality of the Year nominees take home the award, but if you asked anyone who the first person who came to their mind as a standout star this past year, we reckon the vast majority would say Mary Earps.
Our money is on ‘Mary, Queen of Stops’ sweeping up yet another bit of silverware.
Tommy Fury announces huge fight against former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall
Daisy Jackson
Tommy Fury has announced his next major boxing match – against a rather unlikely opponent.
The Manc boxer and former Love Island star will face Eddie Hall, who once reigned as the World’s Strongest Man and was the first person on the planet to deadlift 500kg.
The match, billed as Beauty vs The Beast (we’ll let you decide who’s who…), will take place at the AO Arena this summer.
Tommy Fury and Eddie Hall will be facing off in Manchester as part of the Misfits Boxing series, a sports promotion company founded by YouTube sensation KSI.
26-year-old Fury – younger brother of heavyweight legend Tyson Fury – remains unbeaten, seeing off all-comers in the crossover boxing world.
As for 38-year-old Eddie Hall (nicknamed The Beast), he retired as a strongman competitor, where he’s previously been crowned the World’s Strongest Man, and has now pivoted into combat sports.
The pair have collaborated recently on several videos online, taking on challenges like a One Punch Knockout and a breakfast eating competition.
But this will be the first time they’ve publicly faced off in the ring.
Misfirst Boxing has once more delivered the biggest match-ups possible in the crossover boxing space, with Fury vs. Hall promising to be a titanic tussle that will captivate fans around the world.
Tommy Fury vs Eddie Hall, Beauty vs The Beast, will take place on Saturday 13 June at the AO Arena in Manchester – you can get tickets HERE.
Corey Blackett-Taylor ruled out injured for the rest of the season
Danny Jones
Bolton Wanderers winger Corey Blackett-Taylor has been ruled out for the rest of the season following injury.
With not that long left in this year’s campaign and the playoff scrap set to ramp up even further in the coming weeks, it’s an unfortunate twist of fate for the Trotters.
Despite still being only a relatively recent signing, having just joined Bolton in the most recent January transfer window, it didn’t take long for him to make a good impression.
Scoring on debut in a 1-0 away win against AFC Wimbledon, the 28-year-old is now set to miss the remainder of the 2025/26 term, letting supporters know the news on Friday, 27 March.
Blackett-Taylor was forced off in the game against Rotherham United after pulling up in the wake of taking a shot, ultimately being subbed in the first half.
It was quickly confirmed to be a thigh injury, and while the specific nature and severity of the damage haven’t been fully detailed, he has now informed fans that his season is over.
Writing on Instagram, he said: “Instantly from arriving at the club, I felt the passion and support from the fans, club, staff and players.
“I have no doubts [about] the club achieving their targets of promotion – I want to say a huge thank you for making me feel so welcomed and comfortable. Unfortunately, my season is concluded due to my injury, but I’ll be here supporting the team to the very end.”
He isn’t the only impactful League One player at a side eyeing up the Championship to have been hampered by setbacks on the physio bench, with rivals Stockport County also confirming an absence at this crucial point in the campaign.
Not ideal for either of the Greater Manchester hopefuls.
Once again, while the recovery period for both of these players has already begun, the exact timelines for their return remain to be seen.
That being said, chances are we’ll see the Derby County loanee back in action before Hills, though we’ll have to wait to find out whether it will be at the Toughsheet Stadium or back with his parent club.
Who do you think is going to clinch that third promotion place at Wembley come this May?
Danny Jones -
12th December 2023 
