Mary Earps given rousing reception in retirement send-off as Lionesses face Spain at Wembley

Former Lionesses No 1 Mary Earps was celebrated before the game (AP)

Former England goalkeeper Mary Earps was given a rousing reception on her appearance at the Lionesses’ World Cup qualifier against Spain at Wembley.

Earps retired from international duty last year and was attending a celebration of her career with the Lionesses before Tuesday’s game.

England manager Sarina Wiegman said before the game that she hoped Earps, who earned 53 caps and kept 26 clean sheets, would get the retirement send-off she “deserves”. The warm applause at Wembley indicated that the furore surrounding comments she made in her autobiography late last year had been forgiven if not forgotten by large numbers of fans.

Earps became England’s No 1 in 2021 and played a key role in their Euro 2022 triumph and run to the 2023 World Cup final that saw her recognised as the world’s best keeper, but opted to retire from England duty after losing her place to Hannah Hampton shortly before Euro 2025.

She went on criticise Wiegman’s decision to restore Hampton to the squad in her explosive autobiography ‘All In’, which was published in November last year.

The Paris Saint-Germain keeper has since said she learned “some tough lessons” from the book’s publication and subsequent backlash, telling The Guardian in February that there were “clearly things that I could have done better”.

She has played just once in England since her book was published, when making her return to former club Manchester United in the Women’s Champions League. On that occasion there were a smattering of boos as well as cheers.

However on Tuesday there were loud cheers as she was presented with a framed shirt marking her 53 caps, as well as a bouquet of flowers on the pitch at Wembley to celebrate her contribution to the team.

She was presented with a bouquet of flowers and special framed shirt (AP)

The Euro 2022 winner also received a warm hug from Leah Williamson, Lucy Bronze, Keira Walsh and Alessia Russo, as England headed off the pitch at the end of their warm-up.

Wiegman said before Tuesday’s presentation: “It shows what she has done for the game, what she has done for England. She is an inspiration for so many people, particularly young goalkeepers. She deserves a great farewell. I hope we celebrate her and it will be a nice moment.

“I think some people have been disappointed, some people will be thinking she is inspirational, everyone will have an opinion. But let’s cherish the moments we had together. Mary had a great career and for us was the world’s best. She played important games and now she has moved on. Let’s all celebrate her.”

The FA has made efforts to honour former England players following their international retirements and there was a send-off for Euros winner Fran Kirby before the friendly against China in November, as well as former captain Steph Houghton before a friendly with Germany in October 2024.