Lionesses star Mary Earps' football career started with a kick about in a Nottingham back garden

Today (March 7, 2024) marks Mary Earps' 31st birthday - Pisces queen.

30 was a busy year for the Lionesses' goalkeeper who was crowned as the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year beating the likes of Frankie Dettori and Rory MciLory.

Last year the football star also had a Nottingham tram named after her, which we can only assume was a career highlight.

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All eyes from the British sporting stage have been on Miss Earps since she won the Golden Glove for England in last year's Women's World Cup.

The now 31-year-old was key to the Lionesses’ reaching the tournament’s final, with her side narrowly defeated by Spain back in August. 

She was also named England Women’s Player of the Year, finishing ahead of Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood. 

It’s been an incredible 12 months for the Manchester United ‘keeper, made even better by the fact that she hails from Notts!

How is Mary Earps linked to Nottingham?

Earps was born on March 7, 1993 and grew up in West Bridgford. 

She attended The Beckett School, before continuing her studies at the University of Loughborough. 

Earps graduated with a degree in Information Management and Business Studies in 2016, shortly before turning professional. 

When she was 10, Earps began playing for West Bridgford Colts after her friend’s dad set up the club. 

'The start of a love story'

In an interview earlier this year with the FA, Earps said: “I first started playing football around the age of eight. My brother and my dad were kicking a ball around in the garden and I wanted to join in because it looked fun and that was the beginning of a love story.

From there I would train with my brother’s team but I wasn’t allowed to play for them in matches so I would just go to training every now and again. 

"When I was around ten, the dad of one of my friends at school set up a local grassroots team called West Bridgford Colts and then I played for them.

"When I was growing up, girls didn’t really play football in the park or on the street where I lived. My brother would go to the park but he was two years younger than me. 

“So then when he was around the age of six and I was eight, we started playing in the garden and would then go around to the park when we were old enough to go on our own or my dad would take us.”

Aged 14, Earps moved to the centre of excellence at Leicester City and was promoted to the Foxes’ first-team in 2009. 

Just last week, Earps returned to her home city to unveil a tram named after her - following in the footsteps of fellow Nottingham icons such as Vicky McClure, Brian Clough and Stuart Broad. 

A true ambassador for Nottingham, here’s to hoping that Earps will one day have a World Cup winner’s medal to parade around the city!