STARTING OVER. Goalkeeper Mary Earps is back in the WSL, to write a new chapter with London City.

After two seasons with PSG, maverick ex-England and Man United keeper Mary Earps is back in the WSL, this time with London City Lionesses. It’s a fresh start with a club whose values, says Earps, align with hers. And she wants to find happiness and prolong her career with the independent club.

Earps speaks to Helen M Jerome about making this big decision, the uniqueness of being a professional footballer, knowing who to trust, being reunited with ex-PSG teammate Grace Geyoro, and whether this will be the new chapter in her autobiography…

When you get to your stage of your career and you’ve had multiple jobs in multiple countries, I wonder who are the people you listen to for advice?

Good, good question.

You know what? I think, being honest – as I always try to be – it’s changed over time.

I found that difficult to navigate at times with different things that have happened.

I think with success, things change.

When you’re younger, I think you always rely on your family and friends to guide you.

And, of course, they’ll always have your best interests at heart and tell you the home truths.

But I think sometimes it becomes hard for them to relate to you because there’s no similarities necessarily between their job and football, because football is such a unique job.

You know, the amount of times my mum’s asked me if I could take some annual leave because it’s a birthday… I’ve lost count.

And obviously football just doesn’t quite work that way.

So I’ve found that difficult at times.

I think I’m someone who… I try to be quite private and keep things close to my chest.

But I always try to learn.

And if I do make any mistakes, I try and make sure I don’t make the same one twice.

I think it’s just surrounding yourself with the right people, being comfortable to share things sometimes, trusting the right people.

Making sure you have those people who are going to put their arm around you sometimes, but they maybe give you a kick up the ass when you need it as well!

I think I’ve developed a pretty good filtering system by now.

It’s surrounding yourself with the right people, being comfortable to share things sometimes, trusting the right people.
Making sure you have those people who are going to put their arm around you sometimes, but they maybe give you a kick up the ass when you need it…

I hope there’s no more hard times ahead but realistically that’s very unrealistic.

There’ll always be something.

Yeah, it’s hard, but I’m very lucky.

I’m surrounded by incredible people.

I feel so lucky to have the loved ones that I do, who always keep me right.