England and former Reading FC Women goalkeeper Mary Earps has revealed she is frustrated with kit manufacturer Nike over the unavailability of Lionesses replica shirts ahead of the World Cup.
In a press conference ahead of England’s opener with Haiti, Manchester United’s Earps said: “I can’t really sugarcoat this any other way so I’m not going to try. It’s hugely disappointing and hurtful. It’s something I’ve been fighting behind closed doors.”
According to the Mirror, Earps is furious that, despite several personal approaches, Nike remain committed to their policy of not re-producing the keepers’ jersey.
Earps, who has previously helped coach FC Bracknell goalkeepers during her time in Berkshire said: “I go into grassroots clubs. I used to be asked to bribe people to go in goal. I’ve been into clubs recently and that’s not been the case. A lot of that has come off the back of the Euros – but also some of my success this year.
“For my own family and friends not to be able to buy my shirt, they’re wearing normal clothes – on a personal level, it’s hard. All of my teammates have ordered shirts for their friends and family. They’re talking about it at our dinner table, saying; ‘I wasn’t able to get this,’ and I’m thinking to myself, ‘Well, I can’t get it at all.’
Earps added she felt Nike were sending a scary message to goalkeepers world wide that they weren’t important.
