You will have no problem in spotting Birmingham City goalkeeper Mary Earps during the forthcoming Women’s Super League season writes TONY LEIGHTON…
In fact, it will be impossible to miss the England Under-23 international as she steps out in a glaringly bright, near-iridescent orange jersey, shorts and socks.
“It is a bit bright,” admitted Earps as she paraded her new gear at the club’s 2014 kit launch. “But,” added the 20-year-old, “it is my favourite colour.”
Favourite colour or not, the young keeper is hoping that her performances rather than her hi-viz strip will get her noticed in the campaign ahead.
Heading into her second season with Blues after joining from Doncaster Belles, she told She Kicks: “I want to really develop my game this year.
“I didn’t play as often as I’d have liked last season, but I gained some invaluable experience and now I aim to build on that with as much game time as possible.
“It was great in particular to play in the Champions League for the first time, and I’m so looking forward to our quarter-final against Arsenal next month.”
Another of Blues’ young guns, striker Kirsty Linnett (above right), is also waiting expectantly to face her old club Arsenal, after making her name in the Round of 16.
Linnett scored twice as Russian side Zorky were thumped 5-2 in the second leg at St Andrew’s, the result giving Blues a 7-2 aggregate victory.
It was the first time a women’s match had been played at the home of Football League club Birmingham and Linnett said: “It was a fantastic evening.
“It was so exciting to play at St Andrew’s, and playing against a top English club in the quarter-final should make it an even bigger occasion.”
Blues will be underdogs against the Gunners, as they will be in the Super League according to word that has been passed on to Linnett.
“I’ve been told that we’re the favorites to get relegated,” said Earps’ England Under-23 colleague, who like the goalkeeper is 20 years old.
“If that’s true,” Linnett added, “then we like it – it will be our motivation to do really well in the Super League and prove people wrong.”
The doom-mongers who have handed Blues the wooden spoon tag have doubtless done so due to the departure of several key players.
Captain Laura Bassett and striker Rachel Williams have joined Chelsea, while striker Izzy Christiansen has moved to Manchester City.
But senior England international Karen Carney has pledged her allegiance and is confident that what will be a very young team can prosper.
Carney said: “It was disappointing to lose some of our best players, but they’ve gone for their own reasons and I can’t knock them.
“They’re all my mates and I wish them the best of luck, but I have 100 per cent faith in our young players because I know how good they can be.
“We just have to go about our business quietly and let other teams do the talking. I laugh about being called relegation favourites – I’ve no doubts that we’ll be ok.”
SHE KICKS – the online community for women’s football
