Sports Personality of the Year 2023: Mary Earps wants ‘to change the world’

England and Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps wants “to change the world” after being named Sports Personality of the Year 2023.

She is the second women’s footballer in succession to win the BBC award after Arsenal forward Beth Mead in 2022.

“I’m trying to be a game changer,” Earps told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“I’m trying to change the world in whatever small time that I’m here. I enjoy the responsibility of being a role model, I try to inspire as many people as possible – young, old, whatever,” Earps said.

“I want people to relate to me and my journey, see that I’m just a normal person trying to live out her dream.

“I’m trying [to make goalkeeping cool]. It’s happening, it’s happening. Slowly but surely – it’s the Merps mission. Goalkeeping is cool!”

Earps was the Lionesses’ standout player as they reached a first World Cup final in the summer and was rewarded with the Golden Glove for the best goalkeeper at the tournament.

“It’s actually unbelievable to think that this isn’t a football award, it’s an all round sporting award and it’s generic across the country,” she said.

“It’s not just about what I’ve achieved in football, it’s something bigger than that and that’s really humbling and grounding. I’m going to take some time to really reflect on that and what it means.”

The Fifa Best Women’s Goalkeeper was voted England Women’s Player of the Year for 2022-23 and finished fifth in the voting for the Ballon d’Or award.

She was also named the BBC’s Women’s Footballer of the Year last month.

Record growth in women’s and girl’s football in England

Meanwhile, the Football Association says there has been “significant progress” made in its plan to improve women’s and girl’s football in England.

In October 2020 the FA launched its ‘Inspiring Positive Change’ strategy, which had eight objectives to be achieved by 2024, including England winning a major tournament, plus football for all, early participation, coaching and refereeing.

One of those targets – ensuring 75% of schools deliver equal access to football in PE lessons – has been achieved a year early.

There has been a 12% increase in affiliated females playing football, an 18% increase in female youth players and a 39% increase in the total number of female youth teams (aged 5-18) since October 2021.

There has also been substantial growth across refereeing and coaching.

The talent pathway for players has been “reformed” with an increase in the number of players from socio-economically deprived areas and from underrepresented groups.

“We still have a long way to go for the game to get to where we want it to be,” said Baroness Sue Campbell, FA director of women’s football.

“But the future of women’s and girls’ football has never been brighter.

“The transformational growth we are seeing across the game has been spearheaded by our trailblazing Lionesses and the legacy they have created for the generations of girls who will come after them.”

The FA said targets for the professional game have been met before 2024 too.

This includes the average Women’s Super League attendance, which has surpassed the 6,000 target and is now at 7,457.