Mary Earps receives ‘never again’ promise from Nike after England Lioness makes history with SPOTY award

MARY EARPS claims she has a commitment from Nike to never repeat their replica jersey farce.

The England and Manchester United stopper believes other giant sportswear companies will now flood the market with women’s football tops.

Mary Earps won the Sports Personality of the Year award on Tuesday nightPA

Nike eventually put Earps shirts on sale after furious backlash from fansGetty

In July, Earps voiced her anger that fans could not buy a Lionesses keeper shirt because the FA’s kit suppliers were not prepared to manufacture and then sell them.

Nike reversed that decision after Earps helped Sarina Wiegman’s side to the World Cup final, saving a penalty in the final defeat to Spain in Sydney.

Twice since it has gone on sale and sold out quickly on both occasions.

Earps, 30, said: “I am just happy that it was sold. It was more about the principle.

“It’s been a long, work-in-progress and the public have got behind me.

“Now it’s a conversation of, ‘OK, how many?’ And that’s a very different conversation to what it was before.”

Earps was speaking after winning the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award on Tuesday in Salford.

It is the second year in a row a female footballer has won SPOTY after striker Beth Mead got it in late 2022.

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Reuters

Earps won the Golden Glove at the World Cup in the summer[/caption]

Asked if brands like Umbro and Adidas may now start selling women’s shirts, Earps replied: “I would like to think so.

“I’ve had a commitment from Nike it will never happen again. Hopefully other sports brands will follow suit.

“The messaging being sent out was really damaging. Now you don’t have that. People can be whatever they want to be. Representation and visibility is so important.”