Sport

Mary Earps has been voted the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2023

She's become an icon and role model for so many.

Danny Jones - 28th November 2023

England and Manchester United Women goalkeeper Mary Earps has been voted the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year for 2023, adding yet another accolade to what has been a heavily decorated 18 months for the sporting star.

The Nottingham-born keeper was announced as the winner on Tuesday, 28 November, becoming the very first goalkeeper in history to ever win the BBC’s award for the best and most impactful female player of the year ahead of Spanish midfielder Aitana Bonmati and Chelsea star Sam Kerr.

Having followed up her Euro 2022 win alongside the Lionesses with the nation’s maiden Finalissimia trophy, a FIFA’s Best Goalkeeper Award, a Golden Glove at the 2023 Women’s World Cup and an England Women’s Player of the Year Award, her collection of silverware has certainly grown massively of late.

And, of course, following her incredible performance during the tournament and that now iconic stop seen around the world in the final against Spain, it was never going to be anyone else, was it?

MARY EARPS! 🎉🎉🎉

BBC's Women's Footballer of the Year 2023!

Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/EWvRFbsmks
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 28, 2023

Mary Earps came first in the public vote for the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year, a five-player shortlist selected by expert coaches, players, administrators and journalists.

Speaking to the outlet following her win, Mary Earps said: “I am truly honoured to be BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year. Thank you so much for voting for me.

“To be the first goalkeeper to get their hands on the award is incredibly special and I am incredibly grateful. Hopefully, one of many more to come and thank you so much again.”

The 30-year-old went on to add, “I try to use my story as a beacon of hope for people. To show that there are better days coming. You just have to keep going and keep fighting; that looks very different to different people.

“I think there was a time when no one was watching what I was doing. To work hard in silence, on your own, nobody notices what you do. It doesn’t matter what you do, apart from to yourself and your own standards.

“I think that is a big part of where I am today, and sort of the resilience that I’ve shown and I know there are going to be many more moments where I’m going to need that resilience.” Earps also picked up the Billy Seymour Impact Award at the 2023 North West Football Awards earlier this month.

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It goes without saying that just like the rest of the Lionesses squad, the no-nonsense no.1 has become an inspiration to so many women and young girls over the past year or so, as well as cementing herself as a firm favourite among football fans in general.

The public outcry to have replicas of her England shirt manufactured, which resulted in Nike backing down and the people actually winning against a big global corporation for once, was proof enough of just how much the nation loves her.

Having finished second in the 2022/23 WSL title race and making it to Man United‘s first-ever Women’s FA Cup final, Earps had a great year at club level too and is undoubtedly one of the most popular female footballers on the planet right now, so we’re going to go ahead and call this latest award well-deserved.

Big up Big Mearps, a.k.a. ‘Mary Queen of Stops’.

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Featured Images — Mary Earps (via Instagram)/Adidas