Mary Earps - World Cup kit row, Nike U-turn and England ace's "injustice" claim
Mary Earps is the woman who launched Nike into a 180-degree U-turn after the sporting apparel giant nailed its colours to a Not-Selling-Her-Shirt mast.
That was Nike's first mistake, a gaffe that was firmly italicised, underlined and bolded as the England No 1's goalkeeper shirt sold out in record time in October. That was without Nike making an official announcement that the shirts were even available for sale, such was (and is) the fervour thrumming through the legion of Mary Queen of Stoppers.
In December, Earps supporters were given another chance to secure the goalkeeper jersey ahead of Christmas, with the FA announcing a larger batch of women's and junior sizes going on sale. That cache, too, sold out almost completely on the same day. A valuable lesson in injustice, then, for the sportswear juggernaut? This year's BBC Sport Personality of the Year certainly thinks so.
"Definitely, I've been speaking to Nike quite a bit over the course of the year," the Manchester United shotstopper told Sky Sports. "On this topic, they know that they got this wrong and that's why they've done this correction - a big company like Nike, they wouldn't do that if they didn't know it wasn't right and that there was an injustice there."
Earps added: "I was really 'umm-ing and ah-ing' whether to use my voice and to speak on it or not - I thought I was just speaking for a niche of goalkeepers, but it turned out to be support from a group of much wider group of people. I think from that, collectively, we've really changed the world, so thank you to everyone."
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After the second round of Earps shirts sold out within the day in December, the 30-year-old wrote on Instagram: "We did it gang." The message to her followers had a dash of finality to it, the end of a long, arduous and, at times, ugly battle. And in no uncertain terms, it was.
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After approaching Nike repeatedly regarding the matter, Earps opted to take her fight public. The United player savaged Nike over their refusal to manufacture replica women's goalkeeping shirts. And as Nike remained committed to their policy of not re-producing the keeper's jersey, the row only continued to swell.
The contretemps hit new heights after the Women's World Cup final, in which Earps single-handedly kept England's hopes of a first-ever World Cup title alive as she denied Jenni Hermoso from the spot. Her expletive-laden roar in the immediate aftermath of the save swiftly became one of the tournament's (and the goalkeeper's) most iconic moments.
That such a moment could not be remembered or eternised with something as basic as Earps' shirt was a nonstarter for fans, who made their anger known.
Mary Earps speaks to the crowd after winning the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award (David Davies/PA Wire)Nike acknowledged fans’ interest but failed to commit to making them, a stance swiftly depreciated by Earps who posted a photo on her Instagram story that included the statement from Nike with her own message which read: "@Nike is this your version of an apology/taking accountability/a powerful statement of intent?"
Earps' questioning sparked more than 150,000 fans to sign petition demanding Nike reverse their manufacturing. A motion addressing the issue was also submitted in the British Parliament. Nike formally announced their U-turn shortly after.
Earps, who was named this year's BBC Sport Personality of the Year, has been vocal in her mission of redefining the perception of women's goalkeepers.
"I'm trying to represent a whole group of people and show that goalkeeping is cool and we can be on the front of things. We still have a lot of work to do," Earps said.
On winning the award, she added: "For me, I feel this is the ultimate, all-around sporting accolade, and with the Lionesses and Manchester United we’ve had an incredible couple of years. But this is, wow.
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"It’s not been the easiest journey, and I wouldn’t be where I am without a couple of incredible people in my corner so finally thank you to them. They've been with me through the really, really not so great times.
"The last two years have been unbelievable, I've done more than I could imagine and for that I am truly and incredibly grateful."
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