Former England goalkeeper and Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps has revealed in her new autobiography, All In, that she took a stand against “bad behavior being rewarded” when fellow goalkeeper Hannah Hampton returned to the England squad. In a book exclusively published by the Guardian, Arps claims that Hampton’s off-field behavior during England’s Euro 2022 win often disrupted training sessions and risked straining team resources.
Asked to elaborate more on the sabotage, Earps said: “I don’t want to go into details because it’s not my place. She’s a very good goalkeeper and I’ve tried to draw a line under all of that. I sent her a private message and said, ‘Listen, there’s no bad blood in there.’
Back in October 2022, it was reported that Hampton had been dropped from the England squad due to his behavior and attitude at team camp. When asked about this decision, manager Sarina Wiegman did not elaborate, saying, “I don’t want to comment because she has to do something personal.”
The Chelsea goalkeeper later revealed how these reports affected her, confessing that she even considered quitting football. “It was hard to find the fight within myself to prove people wrong, but I managed to do it,” she admitted to Elle in June.
“I had friends and family around me at the time who guided me in the right direction and pushed me forward. It worked out well. I have a lot to thank them for.”
Hampton, who also played for Aston Villa and Birmingham City, was called up to play for England in 2023, but Arps revealed in his autobiography that he sought advice from Wiegman before making the decision. Hampton played several games in April 2024, as Wigman revealed he intended to play him in a Euro qualifier. “It doesn’t make sense,” Arps said of informing Wigman. “This is a qualifying match, and bad behavior pays.”
Twelve months later, Hampton has emerged as Wiegmann’s favorite goalkeeper, but the decision led to Arps’ sensational quit from international football ahead of this year’s Euros in Switzerland. The Lionesses successfully defended their title, with Hampton playing a key role in the victory.
In her memoir, due to be published next week, the former Lioness opens up about the harsh criticism she endured from her coach in her youth and the devastating mental struggles she battled during lockdown. Arps confessed to “munching on biscuits instead of eating proper meals” and consuming excessive amounts of vodka.
