Why Mary Earps being honoured at Wembley was important to close the Lionesses saga

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Never miss a kick-off!Signup +Join the clubGet full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in.Subscribe to our newsletterMary Earps was honoured at Wembley ahead of Englands fixture against Spain, following her international retirement last year.The tribute came after months of tension surrounding the timing of her exit ahead of Euro 2025 and subsequent controversial comments made in her autobiography.The moment offered a sense of closure for the European championship-winning goalkeeper and fans, who were able to celebrate her incredible England career.Article continues below You may like The more people who know you, the more people who also hate you Lucy Bronze on the dark side of fame that has crept into womens football Getting out of bed felt hard. Playing felt impossible: I look back at those periods and I dont really know how I found the strength to get through Kim Littles incredible journey to overcome adversity and lead Arsenal to Champions League glory 'Take care of us' Leading Lionesses send clear message to FIFA and Gianni Infantino Closing the chapter on a complicated farewellWhen Mary Earps walked out at Wembley Stadium to be honoured ahead of kick-off, it felt like more than just a routine presentation. It felt necessary to end the noise on a complicated international retirement.After months of debate among supporters, the moment allowed Lionesses fans to properly acknowledge one of their most influential players of recent times.The last few months of noise would make it easy to forget that Earps was central to Englands triumph at Euro 2022 and the Lionesses run to the final of the 2023 World Cup, a match in which she saved a penalty.As well as earning 53 caps, she used her platform to drive change off the pitch - most notably calling on Nike to make the World Cup goalkeeper shirts available to fans in, a campaign that ultimately led to the manufacturer making a U-turn. She went on to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2023.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Her impact on the pitch and on inspiring a generation of young goalkeepers has never been in doubt.Yet her international retirement, announced just weeks before Euro 2025, complicated that legacy in the public eye. Having lost her starting place to Hannah Hampton, Earps spoke candidly in her autobiography about her disappointment with the decision made by head coach Sarina Wiegman.The reaction was mixed - some praised her honesty while others questioned the timing and tone, especially as all parties involved were still playing football. What to read next Lionesses mark 500th game with special shirt Chloe Kelly becomes Barbie for International Women's Day Who is Keira Barry? The latest name to be called up to the Lionesses A special moment at @wembleystadium for Mary Earps pic.twitter.com/GrMFxmbPqtApril 14, 2026So when she returned to Wembley ahead of the Lionesses' victory , all eyes were on the reception she would receive in front of more than 60,000 fans. It mattered that the stadium responded with warmth as her montage was played and she waved to the stands.There were smiles and hugs from fellow teammates including captain Leah Williamson, Keira Walsh, Lucy Bronze and Alessia Russo. Goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck also greeted her with a warm embrace.The England manager had urged fans beforehand to focus on Earps legacy rather than the controversy, calling her an inspiration and hope that supporters would celebrate her." And they did.Lets cherish the moments we had together, Wiegman said. Mary had a great career and for us was the world's best."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 and I hope it will be a nice moment.Not only was it a nice moment, but a much-needed moment. It closes the chapter on the saga and ensures we can remember Earps as a Lionesses great.TOPICSEngland WomenAyisha GulatiWomen's Football WriterAyisha Gulati is the women's football writer at FourFourTwo. Fresh from a summer covering the Lionesses triumphant Euro 2025 campaign in Switzerland, she brings a passion for all things WSL, UWCL, and international womens football. She has interviewed names including Alessia Russo and Aitana Bonmati and enjoys telling stories that capture the excitement on and off the pitch.