Sports Personality of the Year winner Mary Earps revels in ‘the ultimate all-round sporting accolade’… as England goalkeeper admits ‘it’s not been the easiest journey’ after she considered quitting football just three years ago

• England star Mary Earps said winning SPOTY was ‘ultimate sporting accolade’ 
• She admitted it ‘hasn’t been the easiest journey’ after considering quitting 
• REVEALED on It’s All Kicking Off: Man United’s January transfer window plans… and how the Sir Jim Ratcliffe takeover will impact them 

There was a time when Mary Earps believed she wasn’t good enough. When the heartache of being left out of the England squad was so overwhelming that it left her crying on the kitchen floor. A time when she felt as though she had lost her purpose and contemplated calling it quits.

That was three years ago. Fast forward to last night and there was that same woman, standing tall and proud, surrounded by the very best of British sport, with the famous BBC Sports Personality of the Year trophy in her grasp. That trophy could hardly be in a safer pair of hands for the next 12 months.

‘This is the ultimate all-round sporting accolade,’ said Earps, who also placed fifth in this year’s women’s Ballon d’Or award, a record finish for a keeper. ‘This is just… wow. It’s not been the easiest journey, I wouldn’t be here without the help of so many, people who have been with me through the really not so great times. I have done more than I can ever have imagined.’

The 1/7 hot favourite came out on top in the public vote ahead of former England cricketer Stuart Broad and world champion heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson to become the 70th winner of the gong.

Earps’ success also continues in a remarkable run of glory for sportswomen in the award.

England keeper Mary Earps revelled in the ‘ultimate sporting accolade’ by winning SPOTY

Earps – who finished fifth in the Ballon d’Or awards – came out on top ahead of Stuart Broad and Katarina Johnson-Thompson

She admitted it had ‘not been the easiest’ journey after considering quitting three years ago

Your browser does not support iframes.

ROLL OF HONOUR 

SPORTS PERSONALITY

MARY EARPS (football)

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

Sir Kenny Dalglish

YOUNG SPORTS PERSONALITY

Mia Brookes (snowboarding)

COACH OF THE YEAR

Pep Guardiola (Man City)

TEAM OF THE YEAR

Manchester City

UNSUNG HERO

Des Smith (Sheffield Caribbean Sports Club)

WORLD SPORT STAR

Erling Haaland (football)

HELEN ROLLASON AWARD

Fatima Whitbread

Not only does the trophy remain in the Lionesses camp for another year following team-mate Beth Mead’s success in 2022 but Emma Raducanu’s triumph the year before secures a hat-trick of female winners of the main award for the first time since the mid-sixties.

But a moment to focus on the most recent champion, the woman whose performances have earned her the moniker of ‘Mary Queen of Stops’.

It has been a special year for her on and off the pitch. Though she kept a record 14 clean sheets in the league for Manchester United, it is her achievements in an England shirt that truly captured the nation’s hearts.

Earps played every minute in England’s run to the World Cup final, conceding only four times. She could hardly have done more to swing the balance of the final, which ultimately ended with a narrow defeat to Spain, in England’s favour.

Critics often lament winners of this award for failing to tick the ‘personality’ aspect of the brief. That is not a dig that can be aimed in Earps’ direction.

Her expletive-laden reaction to saving Jennifer Hermoso’s penalty in that final – one borne out of sheer passion of playing for her country – has arguably been watched more than the terrific save itself. 

Earps’ reputation has also blossomed off the back of her social media presence – the England keeper boasts more than 1million followers on TikTok where she entertains fans with dance routines alongside her Lionesses team-mates.

Earps played every minute in England’s run to the World Cup final, conceding only four times

There was, of course, one high profile battle from the World Cup that Earps did emerge victorious from. The 30-year-old managed to reverse kit manufacturer Nike’s decision not to sell replicas of her goalkeeper shirt during the World Cup. Since then it has twice gone on sale to the public, selling out in minutes on both occasions.

Sadly the evening didn’t shift along quite as quickly as her shirts shifted off the shelves. Fans of the BBC drama Vigil were left waiting patiently with the event, hosted by Gary Lineker, Gabby Logan, Alex Scott and Clare Balding, running six minutes over schedule. Rory McIlroy did his bit to speed things along, the Northern Irishman being the only name on the six-strong shortlist not to film a live video link.

There was enough time, thankfully, to pay tribute to the historic achievements of Manchester City in 2023. Though this glitzy bash took place only a stone’s throw away from their Etihad Stadium home, City were left celebrating another treble nearly 4,000 miles away at the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia.

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, with a show every Monday and Thursday this season.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify

Your browser does not support iframes.

They were named Team of the Year after becoming only the second English side to win a hat-trick of major honours while Pep Guardiola’s role in that historic achievement earned him the Coach of the Year award. You wouldn’t bet against the Spaniard making it a sweet 16 major trophies as City boss in Saudi this week, either.

Erling Haaland capped the night off for the champions after being rewarded with the World Sport Star of the Year gong for his record-breaking debut season in England.

The most emotional moment of the night belonged to Kenny Dalglish, who was welcomed onto stage with a rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone as he collected his Lifetime Achievement Award.

Fatima Whitbread, SPOTY winner in 1987, collected the Helen Rollason Award for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity while 16-year-old Mia Brookes, the youngest snowboarding World Champion ever, picked up the Young Sports Personality award.

Source: Read Full Article