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Keeper Mary Earps has publicly stated that her freshly launched memoir was not designed to “damage others” and voiced unease that media response has been “distorted.”

Debated Statements and Fan Backlash

The former England goalkeeper, who had a vital part in the tournament success, received criticism from supporters and Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor after making remarks about former team-mate Hannah Hampton and head coach Sarina Wiegman.

In her book, Earps wrote that she told Wiegman she was “supporting poor attitude” by recalling Hampton to the England squad after omitting her for being “disruptive and unreliable.”

“The response has been immense to see how certain aspects were twisted,” Earps told reporters.

Defending Her Intentions

Earps clearly stated that her memoir was not designed to harm individuals.

• “I’ve not written this book to tear anyone down in any way whatsoever.”
• “That isn’t my personality as a human being.”
• “This is real life. It has implications. It isn’t a drama.”

She also remarked about how the women’s game has moved into an area that has become “almost like performance,” where personal lives are picked apart for public amusement.

Connection to the Coach

Earps wrote about losing the starting position as the first-choice keeper ahead of the tournament and how that created tension with Wiegman.

She clarified it was “not an abrupt downfall” in their relationship—just a divergence in opinions—and she maintains respect for the manager.

“There were things that occurred during that period that I would have preferred to go another way,” Earps stated.

Private Challenges

In her memoir, Earps shared details of the bullying she suffered at in her younger years, describing it as a “particularly challenging” chapter to read again because it revived old wounds.

• “I couldn’t assert myself at that time.”
• “I just assumed that people disapproved of me for a long time.”
• “I became accustomed to feel like people were indifferent.”

These sentiments led to stress outbreaks, and Earps disclosed she faced challenges with physical appearance and used alcohol during the lockdown period to handle anxiety and depression.

Personal Life and Future Plans

Earps openly discussed that she is in a relationship with a woman and expressed pride about her connection with Kitty.

She also mentioned her wish to have children and revealed she has frozen her eggs for later fertility treatment.

“I deeply desire to be a parent and have a household,” Earps said. “I love playing football, but I wish to have a child at a later stage.”

Earps portrayed the egg-freezing procedure as “overwhelming and personal” and called for more investigation tailored to sports professionals undergoing similar procedures.

During her remarks, Earps maintained that she has no second thoughts about her career or individual actions, highlighting that she always proceeded with principle.