Fans have mobilised to call for change (Pictures: Emmy Somauroo/Reuters/Christophe Bayle)
A teenage Lionesses fan has launched a petition to demand that Nike stock her favourite player’s shirt.
Mary Earps has helped England keep a clean sheet in the Women’s World Cup so far.
Prior to the tournament, she was crowned best goalkeeper in 2022 FIFA’s Best Awards, and she also put on an impressive display for Manchester United in the Women’s Super League (WSL).
But as fans readied to back the Lionesses this summer, they found they were unable to buy Earps’ shirt.
Former England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis, pundit Laura Woods and Spice Girl Mel B are among those who have branded the situation a ‘disgrace’.
Now, a teenager in Northamptonshire has taken matters into her own hands.
Emmy Somauroo, 16, has launched a petition calling for the controversial decisionto be overturned.
She told Metro.co.uk: ‘When I heard about Nike’s refusal to sell female goalkeeper kits including Mary Earps’ I was shocked.
Alex Greenwood and Mille Bright watch on as Mary Earps makes a crucial save during England’s Group D match with Denmark (Picture: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
‘Mary is such an inspiring role model within the community of women’s football, she is someone that I and so many other people look up to.
‘Being able to wear your favourite players on the back of your shirts is something that allows young children to personalise their experience of the women’s game.
‘I believe in showing appreciation and respect towards the players that have worked so hard to create the world of women’s football that it is today.
‘I was upset to think that I wouldn’t be able to show my appreciation to Mary.’
Emmy, an ambassador for Miss Kick, was inspired to launch the petition after reading Earps’ own comments on the situation.
Speaking to reporters in Brisbane, the 30-year-old had said: ‘I can’t really sugar-coat this in any way, so I am not going to try.
Fans are unable to buy the goalkeeper’s shirt (Picture: Naomi Baker – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
‘It is hugely disappointing and very hurtful.’
Emmy hopes the petition – which you can sign here – sends a wider message of support out to goalkeepers in the women’s game.
When Earps was presented with the Best Women’s Goalkeeper award at FIFA’s The Best ceremony, she encouraged others to ‘be unapologetically yourself’ in her speech.
Emmy has carried that inspiration with her in recent months.
She hopes to become a female football journalist or content creator, and has the Lionesses to thank for making that dream a possibility.
The teenager hid her passion for football due to bullying at school but, since watching Spain take on Finland in the Women’s Euros last year, has delved back into the sport.
Emmy Somauroo wore a t-shirt with the quote ‘be unapologetically yourself’ when she met Mary Earps (Picture: Emmy Somauroo)
‘I fell in love with the women’s game and the little girl who loved playing football was brought back to life’ Emmy continued.
‘My confidence has grown immensely and I am unbelievably proud to be apart of this community.
‘Watching the Lionesses , all players that I highly look up to, win the Euros was the best thing I have ever experienced. I remember sitting waiting for the final whistle, when it was blown I bawled my eyes out.’
After the Lionesses roared to victory at Wembley, defender Lotte Wubben-Moy spear-headed a campaign to call on more investment in women’s football.
The team wrote a letter to Downing Street following their victory.
In Northamptonshire, Emmy was inspired by the squad to put pen to paper herself.
She wrote to her headteacher, encouraging her to promote footballing opportunities for those within the school community.
After months of advocating for the growth of women’s football in her area, Emmy was able to meet her idol in person in February.
She spoke with Earps at England’s pre-World Cup friendly with Portugal.
While the Lionesses struggled to find a goal, the teenager came away overjoyed following the game.
She recalled: ‘It was one of, if not the best day of my life to meet my idol.
‘Being able to have a conversation with the person I look up to everyday was a dream come true.’
For Emmy’s mum Sarah and step-dad Darren, seeing the teenager’s confidence transform has been an honour to watch.
Sarah told Metro: ‘Women’s football, the community that supports it and in particular, Mary Earps has motivated Emmy and given her the confidence to be just who she wants to be, which she hasn’t always found easy.
Mary Queen of Stops celebrates England’s victory over Denmark (Picture: Patricia Pérez Ferraro/SPP/Shutterstock)
‘She’s struggled with not always feeling like she fits with her “typical” teenage, female friends, but when she discovered women’s football last year, with the Women’s Euros, her life was reinvented.
‘Emmy holds Mary Earps’ quote “Be unapologetically yourself” close to her heart every day and this and Mary’s own story of battling to get where she is now, has motivated Emmy to stand up for what she believes is right.
‘We are super proud of her petition and the values behind it.
‘We have been overwhelmed by how quickly the petition took off, and reading the comments people have left in support of Mary’s battle and Emmys cause has been truly heart-warming.
‘It demonstrates the passion and recognition the public do have for our female footballers.’
You can sign Emmy’s petition here.
Emmy even decorated her school shirt to celebrate her favourite Lioness (Picture: Emmy Somauroo)
Emmy’s petition comes after fellow teenager Millie Winslett wrote to Nike demanding they sell Earps shirts.
The 17-year-old, from Clacton-on-Sea in Essex, plays between the sticks for her school team.
The schoolgirl, wrote: ‘While I’m devastated I can’t currently purchase an England shirt with ‘Earps 1’ on the back, it saddens me further my 10-year-old-sister Lacey, and every other little girl in the country cannot buy [an Earps shirt].
‘By refusing to produce goalkeeper shirts, you are allowing ten girls on a team to feel seen and excluding only one. How is that fair?’
The decision by Nike has taken people by surprise following the Lioness’ success at last years Euros.
Millie added: ‘I went to Wembley to watch a game in April and I loved the goalkeeper’s shirt. I remember telling my sister how much I wanted it.
‘When I went to see if I could buy it I thought they might just be releasing it at a later date but now we know that’s not the case.
‘It’s ridiculous and disappointing. I used to play as a goalkeeper and Nike not producing women’s goalkeepers shirts takes me back to when I felt like my position in the game wasn’t important.
‘For me, I think girls need to have someone who represents them in the game.
‘We have an opportunity to change how women’s football is perceived so I don’t understand why Nike are moving backwards.’
Nike has been approached for comment by Metro.co.uk.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].
For more stories like this, check our news page.
‘I was upset to think that I wouldn’t be able to show my appreciation to Mary.’
