You might have noticed female footballer Mary Earps’ name in the headlines a lot lately – arguably more than any time since her heroics at Euro 2022 – but many of you might be wondering why exactly she is facing so much criticism at the moment.
It’s not too complicated or long of a story, but it isn’t an entirely straightforward one either.
Put simply, the ex-Manchester United goalkeeper and now former England number one has just released her own autobiography entitled All In, which certainly seems to stay true to its title, as the 32-year-old has laid bare quite a lot of behind-the-scenes information.
With that in mind, the majority of the drama has come from the England camps and her relationship not only with the national team but with women’s manager Sarina Wiegman and, most notably, the shotstopper who unseated her as first-choice between the sticks for the Lionesses: Hannah Hampton.
Dropping on 6 November, she prefaced the release on social by writing: “Every chapter comes from the same place I play from: heart first, full commitment, no half measures.
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“For me, there’s never been a halfway. I’ve always been all in. This book is a reflection of that mindset: relentless, honest, unapologetically me.”
While it sounds like an interesting invitation to hear the keeper’s most candid comments on the surface, that’s also ended up being a big part of the problem, with some of her supposed honesty surrounding England and her shock retirement from international football being seen as airing ‘dirty laundry’.
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At the very least, many within the sport have questioned whether the tell-all approach has crossed a line of sorts, with several high-profile professionals arguing that what goes on in the dressing room should very much stay in there.
One such individual is the now-retired England and Man City legend, Ellen White; the Lionesses’ leading all-time goalscorer suggested that Earps virtually broke an almost unspoken rule between players by making such public remarks.
One of the main threads running throughout this ongoing drama is the perceived ‘beef’ between Mary Earps and Hannah Hampton, with the latter having previously been dropped from the Lionesses squad over reported issues surrounding her “attitude.”
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Nevertheless, the 24-year-old has returned to the lineup and helped Wiegman’s record-breaking side win a second consecutive European championship, but as you can see in excerpts below, Earps didn’t exactly agree with the decision and her own treatment as a result.
Her more senior Nottingham-born counterpart has slightly doubled back in terms of tone since the release of the book – well, rather clarified that she has maintained nothing but “respect” for both individuals throughout, regardless of their various differences.
The two shared the stage alongside head coach Sarina Weigman at the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony as Hampton picked up the Yashin Trophy, with Earps passing her the award as she gave a powerful speech on behalf of women’s football in a moment in which she said it meant a lot to have her there.
Nevertheless, the undercurrent of rivalry still played as a backdrop and has now been largely overshadowed by what could have otherwise felt like a baton-passing moment.
— HamptonFC MBE 💙 #justicefornüsken (@hamptonfc24) October 31, 2025
It’s more than evident that not everyone has agreed with the tone or, at the very least, the timing around these apparent revelations.
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Another retired England women’s legend, Eni Aluko, said exactly that in a recent interview with Sky Sports, though she did express hints of empathy for her situation and how the quotes have been taken, with Earps claiming that the so-called rift has been somewhat blown out of proportion/exaggerated.
On the other hand, not unlike the reaction to how she handled her United contract negotiations before ultimately leaving to join PSG, others have also criticised how she responded to competition for her starting spot from the head coach, especially as plenty would consider this part and parcel of the job.
Not all of her previous teammates are in the same camp, though; fellow Lionesses star and Man City defender Alex Greenwood has already recognised the importance of her “massive personality”, which has done wonders for female goalkeeping and the game as a whole.
Applauding her willingness to challenge both things and people, even in difficult situations, Greenwood admitted that, besides the bond she developed with Earps as they came up through the youth ranks together, adding that she wouldn’t often “say what you’re thinking” even if others wouldn’t.
It’s also worth mentioning that there is a whiff of irony around her seemingly taking issue with a then-even younger Hampton being given a ‘second chance’ following behavioural issues, despite Earps herself being brought back into the fold in 2021, having not played since November 2019.
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Safe to say there are a fair few moving parts to this, but based on what we do know (there’s certainly more we don’t and probably never will), what do you make of the ongoing Mary Earps drama?
You can see her watershed interview with BBC Sport here.
Iconic Manchester United pub reopens after major £400k refurb
Daisy Jackson
An Old Trafford pub that’s long been a favourite with Manchester United fans has reopened its doors after a major refurbishment.
The Tollgate has had a £400,000 investment to become a ‘Grandstand’ sports pub, with gigantic HD screens throughout, tiered seating so you always have a great view of the action, and a menu of classic pub bites to pair with your pint.
There’ll be a big event atmosphere with all key sporting fixtures shown throughout the week, including football, rugby, cricket, tennis, F1, darts, horse racing – you name it, The Tollgate will show it.
The enormous outdoor area has also been refurbished, with new outdoor TV screens and Marston’s ‘Order & Pay’ app letting you order a round from your seat without missing a goal.
You’ll even find screens outside the loos…
Soon, local artist Pic One will be painting a mural onto the side of the pub, making it even more of a landmark boozer for Old Trafford.
The huge new main HD screenInside The Tollgate after its refurbThe Tollgate’s installed a TV box outside
Back inside, you’ll find a regulation dart board and a pool table, with new competition leagues and ‘free to play’ recreational sessions taking place throughout the week.
As well as a smart new interior packed with local sporting memorabilia, The Tollgate has installed market-leading technology, including one particularly gigantic HD screen, along with multiple other HD screens in every area, and a state-of-the-art sound system.
As you pass by, you might spot a huge TV box outside the pub, which has been installed to reflect how big the screen inside is.
The Tollgate is offering fans and customers a chance to shape its future – they’re calling out for locals to provide more photographs and merchandise to decorate the space, including mementos to celebrate the achievements of local sports stars and teams.
United memorabilia on the wallsInside the new-look The TollgateA cosy corner of The Tollgate
On the menus, you’ll find a new menu of perfect pub bites, including sharing combo boxes, chicken wings, nachos, and burgers.
There’ll be bottomless fries on offer for local sports teams who manage to get their hands on a ‘Black Card’, with even more rewards if they win their game.
And all draught beer (and there’s a lot of it) is now available in two-pint cups.
To celebrate its launch, the pub invited a fellow Manchester United icon Ying-Hoi Soo (affectionately known to Reds as ‘Mr Miyagi’) to pull the first pint and officially mark the pub’s opening.
Ying is recognised for his selfless charity work, and The Tollgate plans to work closely with Ying in the future to support this.
The new Grandstand pub concept has been introduced after research revealed that 86% of sports fans prefer to watch games at sports pubs, thanks to their livelier atmosphere, better screens, and community feel.
A huge two-pint beerThere’s a pool tableAnd dart board insideThe food offering
Marston’s picked Tollgate as one of the pubs to receive the Grandstand makeover due to its involvement with local sports teams, community groups and charities.
Pub Partner, Michael McLoughlin, said: “We’ve loved welcoming the community back with open arms!
“The response has been fantastic to our food and drink offers, as well as the new technology to watch all kinds of sports – we’re thankful that our pub is always full of good vibes, and real community spirit.”
Baltimore Ravens – The NFL team taking flight in the UK
Daisy Jackson
Manchester might soon have a new favourite football team – but it’s not necessarily what you think.
The NFL is becoming increasingly familiar to British sports fans. Games in London have become an annual fixture, American football has found a growing audience across the country, and now one team in particular is building a passionate following here: the Baltimore Ravens.
You may have seen the purple jerseys at watch parties around the UK, or heard fans talking about the ‘Flock’.
But who exactly are the Ravens, and why are so many British fans getting behind them?
To understand the Ravens, you have to go back to 1996.
The city had previously been home to the Baltimore Colts, but the franchise famously relocated to Indianapolis in 1984, leaving behind a huge hole in the city’s sporting identity.
More than a decade later, NFL football returned, when Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell moved his franchise to Baltimore (unusually, leaving the Browns name behind in Cleveland, and launching a new franchise in Maryland).
Baltimore Ravens trainingManchester has been hosting Baltimore Ravens watch parties
Baltimore’s new franchise needed an identity, so it was put forward to the fans, who settled on Ravens after Edgar Allan Poe’s famous poem, The Raven. The team’s mascots are also called Edgar, Allan, and Poe.
The Ravens played their first regular-season game in September 1996, beating the Oakland Raiders 19–14.
And they didn’t have to wait long to become one of the NFL’s most formidable teams.
The defining moment of the Ravens’ early history came in the 2000 season.
Led by a ferocious defence featuring future Hall of Famers such as linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Rod Woodson, Baltimore powered through – and then dominated – Super Bowl XXXV.
The MT&T Bank StadiumBaltimore Ravens cheerleaders and mascot
The Ravens had their second Super Bowl triumph 12 years later, when quarterback Joe Flacco led the Baltimore Ravens to a dramatic victory over the San Francisco 49ers. It was the final game, and a fairytale ending, for Ray Lewis’ legendary career.
If Ray Lewis helped define the Ravens of the 2000s, Lamar Jackson has become the face of the modern franchise.
Drafted in 2018, Jackson quickly established himself as one of the most exciting players in American football. He’s arguable the perfect introduction to the sport if you’re discovering American football for the first time.
So, why should Manchester care about Baltimore Ravens? Part of the appeal is the football itself.
The Ravens have traditionally built their identity around toughness and physicality. There is a sense of personality about the franchise too, from the purple colours and the raven imagery to the passionate ‘Flock’ of supporters.
Ravens fans have been gathering in the UK for years, with regional meet-ups and watch parties taking place around the country, including in Manchester. The UK Ravens community continues to organise events where fans can watch games together, whether they’ve followed the team for decades or have only just discovered the NFL.
That’s perhaps the best way to understand the appeal of the NFL in the UK.
You don’t need to fly to Baltimore to experience it. Find a watch party, grab a purple jersey, learn the rules as you go and join the Flock.
Danny Jones -
11th November 2025 
