There were many, many, things to smile about during and after England’s 4-0 win in Switzerland on Saturday, but Mary Earps had the widest grin of all, as she made her senior international debut.
It’s not all glamour for these Lionesses, as we had to wait 20-30 mins or so after the game to speak to and congratulate the latest player to earn her first cap for England.
“Anyone who plays less than 45 mins has got to do a little extra just to make sure we are all on the same level fitness-wise, and obviously we are going into a few days off next week, we’re out of camp, so you’ve got to make sure you’re on top of things,” explained a still (understandably so) giddy goalkeeper Mary Earps, as she returned from her ‘blow out’ session with other members of the squad.
Reading no.1 Mary Earps came on to replace Karen Bardsley with 15 mins to go during England’s comfortable victory in Biel/Bienne against Switzerland at the weekend and it was just reward – as well as an unexpected one – for a very well-liked player and character who was recently called up as an additional travelling member of the 23 named in the Euros Squad for the crucial June/July period of preparation.
She didn’t want to speak to us as much as she wanted to speak to her mum right at that point, ha ha, but we wanted to share with you all – ‘cos we know how many of you are so pleased for her – how much it means to Mary and give you a hint of what it’s like for things you have worked all your life for, to finally happen:
Welcome to the club, @1maryearps ? #Lionesses pic.twitter.com/HFIGgmZbi8
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) June 10, 2017
SK: You had the widest grin when you ran on the pitch, did you know you might get some minutes?
ME: Mark pulled me to one side in the prematch and said that I was going to be the number 2, just in case anything happened to KB and obviously I’m not hoping that anything’s going to happen to KB but when you’re put in the number 2 you know you’ve got to be ready because anything could happen. It’s a very different situation to being in the number 4. You’re more involved in the warm up, all these little things that make you much more involved in the day. So I knew I had to be ready. Then Kends [Lee Kendall, GK Coach] said to me about 65 mins that I had to be ready by 75, so that was it.
My heart was pumping. Anyone that knows me, knows that representing my country means the absolute world to me. When I was a kid I used to write anywhere and everywhere, in notebooks, about that I wanted to play for England and I wanted to play in a World Cup…it means the absolute world to me. The girls were cheering us on, saying nice things. That was great. And to come on for KB, I have a great relationship with KB, as I have with all of the goalies, it was a great feeling.
SK: When did you know that you’d be a part of the squad in this training block?
ME: I knew a few weeks ago. I sat down with Mark and Pends and they told me. But obviously, I’m the best secret keeper in the world, so I wouldn’t tell anyone. So I knew it was going to be a great opportunity. I had no idea that this was going to happen. I was just coming in to try and help the group, help the goalkeepers and do everything I can to make training and camp an even better environment than it is. Just bring a bit of energy and a bit of me, so that was all I really hoped to do. I never dreamt I’d be making my debut a couple of weeks later after that conversation.
SK: You are in a pretty unique position to see the togetherness that the ’23’ in the EUROS squad have?
ME: Yeah it’s unbelievable. I’ve been in and out of the seniors now for the last four years and been more a part of it for the last 12-18 months and the way the group has developed has been phenomenal. I think everyone has grown as players but as a team, you really feel a part of something and I think there’s so much belief.
