Earps named Sports Personality of the Year
Manchester United Women goalkeeper Mary Earps has been named BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2023 following a public vote.
The Reds stopper received her trophy at the annual ceremony on Tuesday night, the 70th edition of the awards, and joins a prestigious list of previous winners, such as Bobby Moore, Sir Steve Redgrave and Dame Kelly Holmes.
She saw off competition from fellow nominees cricketer Stuart Broad, jockey Frankie Dettori, wheelchair tennis player Alfie Hewett, athlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson and golfer Rory McIlroy to claim the honour.
Earps becomes the third player to have won the award whilst at United, following in the footsteps of David Beckham and Ryan Giggs.
Hitting the #BBCSPOTY red carpet in style 🤩#MUWomen pic.twitter.com/Gb7kA6Wqtu
— Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) December 19, 2023
Mary continues to blaze a trail by becoming the first United Women player to win the historic accolade.
Earps already made history as the first United Women squad member to be nominated, and inherited the award from last year's winner - and fellow England Lioness - Beth Mead.
Catching up with our Mary 🎤🌟#MUWomen || #BBCSPOTY pic.twitter.com/pStyqx7FYi
— Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) December 19, 2023
The 30-year-old enjoyed another remarkable year in 2023, and continues to inspire, both on and off the pitch.
In the past 12 months, Earps kept a record number of WSL clean sheets for the 2022/23 season, as United finished second, and won the Golden Glove award at the FIFA Women's World Cup after helping England reach the final.
The achievements kept coming for Mary, as she finished fifth in the Ballon d'Or Feminin voting, was named BBC's Women's Footballer of the Year, won the Billy Seymour Impact Award at the North West Football Awards and also received an honorary degree from Loughborough University for outstanding contributions to sport and the global recognition and celebration of female sporting excellence.
Mary continues to be a leading role model for young girls who dream of growing up and being a footballer.
In fact, our no.27's shirt is the second-most popular among fans this season, behind only Ella Toone, further reinforcing the fact that our supporters are looking up and wanting to following in Earps's footsteps.
Congratulations on your latest award, Mary - we are all so proud of this fabulous achievement.
To celebrate Mary's win, we are giving away a 2023/24 goalkeeping jersey that is signed by the women of the hour.
Enter the competition here, before it closes on 1 January 2024.