Mary Earps, the talented goalkeeper for the England women’s football team, has been let down by Nike’s refusal to produce her Lionesses goalkeeper shirt. Even after Earps offered to fund the production herself, Nike still declined. This disappointing decision may have just motivated Earps to prove Nike wrong and showcase her skills on the field.
It is astonishing that a global sports brand like Nike fails to recognize the commercial value of Mary Earps and her influential role as the No.1 goalkeeper for the Lionesses. This argument is not solely based on her exceptional performance against Haiti, where she made two sensational saves and displayed extraordinary skills. Earps has already established herself as the best goalkeeper in the world, with an award that attests to this fact.
By now, Nike should have realized their mistake. The fact that Earps herself has offered to finance the production of her number one shirt, and yet Nike continues to refuse, is nothing short of disgraceful.
However, this disappointing situation may have ignited a fire within Earps, inspiring her to adopt an “I’ll prove you wrong” attitude on the field. Nike will eventually have to rectify this decision, as the demand for Earps’ shirt will undoubtedly grow among adoring fans during the World Cup tournament. After all, fans don’t nickname her “Mary Queen of Stops” for no reason.
Earps has consistently expressed her desire to highlight the joys of playing as a goalkeeper to young football enthusiasts. The focus in football is often on the strikers and the glory they receive, neglecting the thrill of being the last line of defense and denying shots on target.
Putting the fans aside for a moment, it is disheartening that Earps’ own family and friends cannot proudly wear her shirt to show support. This oversight by Nike reflects poorly on the brand and the value they place on one of the nation’s shining gems.
Despite Earps’ attempts to resolve this matter behind closed doors with Nike and the Football Association (FA) prior to the tournament, no progress has been made. This is particularly eye-opening considering the FA’s own slogan, “Football for All.” It seems that they are not living up to their own principles.
“There are people who have spent a tremendous amount of money on outfield shirts and then put ‘Earps 1’ on the back. That doesn’t sit well with me, either,” Earps voiced her concerns.
She added, “Millie Bright approached me a couple of weeks ago and said, ‘Mary, my niece desperately wants your shirt, where can I get it?’ I replied, ‘You can’t, it doesn’t exist.’ I believe this is a significant problem, sending a discouraging message to goalkeepers worldwide that they are not valued.” Nike has yet to respond to Earps’ statement, which she made earlier this week.
When Nike signed a contract to become the kit providers for all of England’s teams, their Brand President Chairman Charlie Denson stated, “We look forward to supporting England teams at every level with innovative product technology.” Apparently, this support does not extend to the women’s goalkeeper. What an unfortunate message to send to young girls. Nike should be ashamed of themselves.
