Mary Earps, the veteran England goalkeeper, has opened up for the first time about the intense reaction to extracts from her upcoming autobiography in an exclusive conversation with BBC Sounds' Emma Sanders.
Since announcing her retirement before the Euros and embarking on a new chapter in life, Earps has faced scrutiny over every aspect of her personal and professional journey. The publication of book excerpts, which include sensitive topics such as her struggles with body image and eating habits, bullying during her early days in football, and her decision to freeze eggs due to fertility issues, sparked an immediate reaction from the public.
"I've had people coming up to me on the street and saying 'I'm so glad you wrote about this', but also 'How could you share that?'," Earps recounted. "It's been a mixed bag of reactions."
One area where the reaction was particularly strong was in her relationship with Sarina Wiegman, England's new manager. When Earps announced her retirement before the Euros, there were questions as to why she had done so early on. Now that more details have come to light, it seems Wiegman has been a source of support for Earps during this difficult time.
The conversation also delved into life off the pitch, revealing Earps' struggles with body image and eating habits, which had previously gone unspoken about. "I was never taught how to eat healthily or exercise properly," she shared candidly. "I was always told I needed to lose weight or be more athletic."
Earps also spoke candidly about her experiences as a woman in football, including the pay disparity between herself and her male counterparts in Germany's Bundesliga. She revealed that during her time with Wolfsburg, salaries were a significant issue for many female players.
One of the most poignant aspects of the conversation was Earps' decision to freeze eggs due to fertility issues related to her profession. "It's been an incredibly tough process," she admitted. "But I'm determined to have a family one day."
As the spotlight continues to shine on Earps, it remains to be seen how her book will be received by fans and critics alike. One thing is certain, however: Mary Earps has given us a glimpse into the complexities of life in the public eye and beyond.
If you're struggling with issues mentioned in this conversation, please don't hesitate to reach out for support at https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline.
Since announcing her retirement before the Euros and embarking on a new chapter in life, Earps has faced scrutiny over every aspect of her personal and professional journey. The publication of book excerpts, which include sensitive topics such as her struggles with body image and eating habits, bullying during her early days in football, and her decision to freeze eggs due to fertility issues, sparked an immediate reaction from the public.
"I've had people coming up to me on the street and saying 'I'm so glad you wrote about this', but also 'How could you share that?'," Earps recounted. "It's been a mixed bag of reactions."
One area where the reaction was particularly strong was in her relationship with Sarina Wiegman, England's new manager. When Earps announced her retirement before the Euros, there were questions as to why she had done so early on. Now that more details have come to light, it seems Wiegman has been a source of support for Earps during this difficult time.
The conversation also delved into life off the pitch, revealing Earps' struggles with body image and eating habits, which had previously gone unspoken about. "I was never taught how to eat healthily or exercise properly," she shared candidly. "I was always told I needed to lose weight or be more athletic."
Earps also spoke candidly about her experiences as a woman in football, including the pay disparity between herself and her male counterparts in Germany's Bundesliga. She revealed that during her time with Wolfsburg, salaries were a significant issue for many female players.
One of the most poignant aspects of the conversation was Earps' decision to freeze eggs due to fertility issues related to her profession. "It's been an incredibly tough process," she admitted. "But I'm determined to have a family one day."
As the spotlight continues to shine on Earps, it remains to be seen how her book will be received by fans and critics alike. One thing is certain, however: Mary Earps has given us a glimpse into the complexities of life in the public eye and beyond.
If you're struggling with issues mentioned in this conversation, please don't hesitate to reach out for support at https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline.
. I mean, I'm not saying she's a bad person or anything, but some of these stories are just so relatable, you know? Like, who hasn't struggled with their own insecurities or felt pressure to conform to societal norms? But at the same time, I feel like some people might be like "girl, why'd you have to share all that?" 
. And her relationship with Sarina Wiegman is so interesting... it's like, we're supposed to be happy for Mary and Sarina finding love and support in each other, but at the same time, some people are gonna be like "wait, what about the team drama?" 
. Anyway, I guess this book is gonna be a wild ride, fam 
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" I mean, who hasn't struggled with body image and eating habits? It's like, we all need to be told how to eat a salad without feeling like we're failing or something. 
And can we talk about the pay disparity in football for a sec? 
It's wild that female players are still fighting for equal pay. Maybe Mary Earps should write a sequel where she talks about her superhero cape fund 
... just kidding, kind of. But seriously, it's great to see someone using their platform to share their story and raise awareness about important issues. 
she's showing us that even when things get tough, we can still be vulnerable and open up about our struggles 
i mean, who hasn't dealt with body image issues or bullying at some point? it's refreshing to see someone from the public eye sharing their story in such a honest way 
and let's be real, it's about time we talk more about fertility issues and how they affect women in sports 
sarina wiegman sounds like an amazing manager too! 
. And can we talk about the pay disparity in women's sports for a sec? It's still ridiculous in 2025 
. Anyway, kudos to Mary Earps for being brave enough to share her story. We need more of that transparency, you know? 
But for Mary, sharing that stuff has been a total double-edged sword - people are hailing her as a hero, but others are totally judging her 
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She's like the ultimate manager BFF right now! I love how Mary is finally getting some validation from her ex-manager... it's like, about time, right? 
And OMG, those comments about fertility issues? So brave of her to share that stuff 
!
! I mean, who knew that being a goalkeeper in football could be so emotionally challenging? 
I mean, she's been supporting Mary Earps during this tough time, and it's like, girl power at its finest! 
. Like, we need more women speaking out about these issues in football and beyond! 
I think it's really interesting how Mary Earps is being perceived differently now that her book excerpts are out. Some people were like "oh she's so brave for sharing this" but others were super critical, which I get. But what I find even more fascinating is the reaction to her relationship with Sarina Wiegman. Like, we know there was some drama going on when Earps retired from the Euros, but now it seems like Wiegman has been a total rock for her. It's like, great that people are finally seeing her in a good light 
just read about Mary Earps talking about her struggles with body image and eating habits. like what even is the point of hiding it all these years? 
but also can't help feeling kinda annoyed that we need to talk about this stuff in the first place... shouldn't be a thing, you know?