Mary Earps named ‘Best Goalkeeper’ at FIFA awards

Former Reading FC Women goalkeeper Mary Earps has been named the worlds best at a FIFA awards ceremony.

Earps, who starred for Reading between 2016 and 2018 in the FA Women’s Super League, was England’s number one during the victorious Euro 2022 campaign last summer as football finally came home.

From coaching FC Bracknell youngsters during her spell in Berkshire to the top of the game, it’s been a rollercoaster few years for Nottingham born Earps who is now officially the best women’s stopper in the world.

Earps, now in a starring role for Manchester United in the FA Women’s Super League, joined Reading from Bristol Academy after spells with Nottingham Forest, Doncaster Rovers Belles and Birmingham City before heading on to VFL Wolfsburg in Germany after Reading.

In a strange twist, the Reading goalkeeper link was strong in the men’s category with Argentinian World Cup Winner Emi Martinez winning the male award – he played 18 games for the Royals during the 2018/19 season on loan from Arsenal before joining Aston Villa permanently.