{"id":133387,"date":"2023-12-20T15:09:34","date_gmt":"2023-12-20T15:09:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/12\/20\/spoty-winner-earps-proud-to-make-goalkeeping-cool\/"},"modified":"2023-12-20T15:09:34","modified_gmt":"2023-12-20T15:09:34","slug":"spoty-winner-earps-proud-to-make-goalkeeping-cool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/12\/20\/spoty-winner-earps-proud-to-make-goalkeeping-cool\/","title":{"rendered":"SPOTY winner Earps proud to make goalkeeping cool \u2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Sports Personality of the Year winner Mary Earps is proud to be making the role of a goalkeeper look cool.<\/p>\n

The Manchester United and England star has grown into a household name in recent years thanks to her heroic performances between the sticks, with the 30-year-old famously saving a penalty in this year\u2019s World Cup final against Spain.<\/p>\n

Earps also finished fifth in the Ballon d\u2019Or Feminin voting and is on a mission to change the public\u2019s view towards keepers.<\/p>\n

Speaking on the red carpet at the awards event at BBC HQ in Salford, she told LiveScore: \u201cThat\u2019s part of my values \u2014 my mission is to make goalkeeping cool!<\/p>\n

\u201cWe see a lot of strikers, attackers in general, on the billboards and getting the marketing deals.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want people to know that goalkeeping is cool.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a valued position but it gets a lot of unfair criticism.\u201d<\/p>\n

Everyone wants to be Mary<\/h2>\n

Fellow Lioness Esme Morgan is well aware of Earps\u2019 impact on the sport and thinks many aspiring footballers will look to follow in her footsteps.<\/p>\n

\"Mary
Mary Earps has 47 England caps to her name<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Manchester City defender said: \u201cMary\u2019s so deserving [of the award]. What she\u2019s done for goalkeeping is just incredible.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s going to be so many girls and boys growing up wanting to be a goalkeeper because Mary has made it cool.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I\u2019ve been on the bench for a couple of recent England games, I can hear the whole crowd just chanting her name.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone wants to be like Mary. They want to save penalties, catch crosses and do what used to be seen as the ugly task.\u201d<\/p>\n

Golden Glove<\/h2>\n
\"Mary
Mary Earps also won the Women\u2019s Super League Golden Glove award in 2022-23<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Earps\u2019 dazzling displays at the World Cup Down Under, where she conceded only four goals, earned her the Golden Glove award while also enhancing her global status \u2014 and the stopper would love to relive the experience.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cI loved it so much. Playing for your country at a World Cup. That\u2019s a dream, right?<\/p>\n

\u201cSo to be able to live that dream. I wanted to make the most of every single minute.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish I could go back to it, to be honest.\u201d<\/p>\n

Earps also believes the friendships in the Lionesses camp has played a role in the team\u2019s meteoric rise, which included lifting the European Championship trophy at Wembley in 2022.<\/p>\n

She added: \u201cI mean, you can have success without all being such close friends, but it makes it more enjoyable when you have that aspect.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love having that close connection and togetherness.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I get to play with some incredible players as well!\u201d<\/p>\n

Penalty heroics<\/h2>\n
\"Mary
Mary Earps brillianty denied Jenni Hermoso from the penalty spot in the World Cup final<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Earps\u2019 iconic penalty save from Jenni Hermoso in the World Cup final was ultimately for a losing cause as Spain triumphed 1-0 in Sydney \u2014 although the emotion generated from the moment is something the goalie will never forget.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cIt\u2019s overwhelming [saving a penalty in a World Cup final].<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you can tell by my reaction, I was just so full of passion. In that moment, it\u2019s just pure emotion \u2014 even though football is a business.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was on top of the world and I really thought we were going to go on and win the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, it\u2019s an unbelievable feeling \u2014 but I would have traded anything to win that gold medal.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Mary Earps has this message for her younger self. \u2764\ufe0f#BBCSPOTY<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/zWtxN4K4fR<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 19, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n