Mary Earps retires from international football

From the playing fields of Bracknell to the World Cup Final, Mary Earps has seen and done it all as a goalkeeper and has now announced her international retirement.

The former Reading FC Women and Manchester United stopper won Euro 2022 with England and played in the 2023 World Cup Final.

Now with Paris Saint Germain in France, Earps has seen her status as England Number One challenged by Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton and has decided to call time on her international career ahead of the summers Euro 2025 Finals in Switzerland.

In 2022, Football in Berkshire chronicled Earps’ time coaching FC Bracknell youngsters before her career really kicked into gear: “In 2016, the England number one spent some time helping to coach FC Bracknell’s goalkeepers at Garth Hill College.

FC Bracknell chairman Neil Graham had fond memories of Earps’ time helping his youngsters: “FC Bracknell always strives to bring new ideas to its Youth members and one part of coaching that always to gets overlooked is goalkeeping.

“With this in mind, we approached Reading FC Women’s Mary Earps in 2016 with a view of providing the club with some expert coaching for our Youth keepers. At this time Mary had her own coaching company called Next Level Goalkeeping.

In a statement making the announcement, Earps said: “I have taken the difficult decision to retire internationally,” Earps said in a statement released by the Football Association on Tuesday. “It has been the greatest honour and privilege of my life, to wear this badge, represent my country and play alongside such an incredible group of players.

“I’ve spent a long time making this decision and it’s not one I’ve made lightly. For me, ultimately this is the right time for me to step aside and give the younger generation an opportunity to thrive. Winning the Euros in 2022 was the best day of my life, and I’m rooting for the girls to do it again this summer.”