The gloves are off: Mary Earps hits out at England coach and fellow goalie

In a revealing new memoir, the Lionesses' former keeper criticises Sabrina Wiegman and exposes resentments in the squad, writes Jessy Parker Humphries

- Jessy Parker Humphries

Mary Earps, one of the leading figures in the rise of England women's football over the past five years, has exposed the tensions and resentments in the Lionesses squad.

Her new autobiography, All In, serialised in the Guardian, criticises the England manager, Sarina Wiegman, and reveals her fury at being replaced as goalkeeper by Hannah Hampton, someone she regarded as a disruptive influence on the squad that famously won the 2022 European Championships.

The comments are a marked change from the usual tone around the women's game which has more commonly been celebrated for its positive atmosphere when compared with the toxicity associated with men's football.

Earps' book lifts the lid, for the first time, on the serious disagreements that exist within the sport, and even between teammates, which are more often overlooked in favour of promoting women's football as being uniquely pleasant.

Earps, who received an MBE in 2024, is no stranger to controversy. She is known variously as "Sweary Mary" (following an outburst against a Spanish opponent after saving a penalty in the 2023 World Cup final) and "Mary Queen of Stops", for the skills that twice won her awards as the best goalkeeper in the world.