Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps admits it is “hurtful” that fans cannot buy a replica of her England shirt.
After being named the world’s top goalkeeper at last year’s Fifa Best awards, all eyes are on Nike as the manufacturing is refusing to sell England goalkeeper shirts.
Earps made history last year when she was part of the Lioness squad that won the European Championship. This summer, they are among the favourites to win the World Cup in Australia.
“Millie [Bright] said ‘my niece is desperate to get your shirt, where can I get it?’ and I was like, ‘you can’t’,” Earps said, as quoted by BBC Sport.
“All my team-mates have ordered a lot of shirts for their friends and family.
“They were talking about it at the dinner table, saying ‘oh I wasn’t able to get this’. And I’m thinking, ‘I can’t get it at all’.
“There are a lot of people who have spent a tremendous amount of money on outfield shirts and then put a number one and ‘Earps’ on the back, which doesn’t sit well with me either.”
It’s a pretty bizarre position for Nike to take after replicas of Earps’ kit with United sold out last season.
As far as explanations go, it has been reported that producing new women’s goalkeeper kits for the public is not part of Nike’s commercial strategy.
Earps went on to add that she did not know her kit would not be available to the public. She only found out when the outfield kit went on sale, so there was a break down in communications somewhere along the way.
“For my own family and friends and loved ones not to be able to buy my shirt, I know that sounds like ‘oh Mary, what a horrible problem’, but on a personal level that is really hard,” Earps added.
“I have been trying to go through the correct channels as much as possible, which is why I have not spoken on it publicly.
“On a personal level, it is hugely hurtful. There has been an incredible rise in goalkeeping participation.”
Earps revealed that her teammates are also disappointed by Nike’s position on the matter.
“I can’t really sugar-coat this in any way, so I am not going to try. It is hugely disappointing and very hurtful,” she added.
England kick off their World Cup campaign against Haiti this morning.
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