Latest news with #SPOTY
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Why is Mary Earps retiring from England now?
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Mary Earps won the Euros with England. | Credit: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images Mary Earps announced her international retirement on Tuesday, just five weeks before the England attempt to defend their European Championship title. Advertisement Earps has been in a battle for the number one shirt with Chelsea's Hannah Hampton recently but has consistently been selected for England camps. Despite her almost guaranteed involvement in the Euros squad, Earps has decided to hang up her boots. But why now? Mary Earps: "Ultimately this is the right time for me to step aside" Mary Earps won the Golden Glove at the 2023 World Cup | Credit: Getty Images Earps herself chose not to delve into specific reasons for why she has chosen now to retire internationally but she did say it was the "right time". She is continuing her club career, Earps currently plays for Paris Saint-Germain. Mary Earps won SPOTY in 2023 | Credit:Earps said in a statement: 'I've spent a long time making this decision and it's not one I've made lightly. For me, ultimately this is the right time for me to step aside and give the younger generation an opportunity to thrive. Winning the Euros in 2022 was the best day of my life, and I'm rooting for the girls to do it again this summer. Advertisement "My journey has never been the simplest, and so in true Mary fashion, this isn't a simple goodbye – right before a major tournament. Nonetheless, I know this is the right decision. "There are so many dimensions to this decision, the details of which aren't important right now, but what it boils down to is: it's now the right moment for me to step aside. This is a new era and a new England team, and I'm looking forward to watching them this summer. 'In the end all you have is all you are – your character. And I know that whilst this won't make sense to some who are reading this, you can trust that I would not be doing this unless I thought it was absolutely the right thing to do, as much as it hurts.' Mary Earps is one of the most recognisable Lionesses | Credit: Getty Images Reports have suggested England manager Sarina Wiegman is angered by the timing of Earps' announcement with a major tournament just around the corner. Advertisement However, other sources have said Earps has been in contact with Wiegman about the decision for 12-18 months. The specific reasoning behind her decision may come out in the future when Earps wants to discuss it. In the meantime, fans have had a mixed reaction to the news. Some have celebrated Earps' career which included the 2022 Euros trophy and helping England reach the World Cup final in 2023. One said: "Don't think people realise that retiring from your national team isn't just a decision you make on a whim? Mary Earps has given her all for this shirt, there would never have been a good time to retire and she has given her all to this England team." Advertisement And another added: "Mary Earps isn't just a great goalkeeper — she's a game-changer, a role model, and a true leader. Massive respect." A third posted: "Mary Earps is the ultimate professional. For her to make a decision like this so close to the Euros, leads me to think that something isn't right for her at this time." Mary Earps is a fan favourite | Credit:While others have criticised the goalkeeper for the timing of her retirement. One said: "Quitting international football five weeks before a major tournament, just after you've been dropped for the first time. Seems to be all about me, rather than all about the team. Mary Earps, on the face of it, is letting England down." Advertisement And another added: "In other words Mary earps has spat her dummy out of her pram, the end." Rumours have also started circling that she will also still be a part of the Euros this summer but as a pundit. She was part of the BBC team who covered the Women's FA Cup final earlier this month.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Luke Littler's rumoured girlfriend Faith Millar spotted supporting teen prodigy during Premer League Darts final
LUKE LITTLER'S rumoured girlfriend was spotted supporting him at the Premier League Darts final. Littler, 18, missed out on defending his title in London. 7 Luke Littler's rumoured girlfriend was in attendance at the Premier League Darts final Credit: Sky Sports 7 Faith Millar sat alongside Littler's dad at the O2 Arena Credit: Sky Sports 7 Littler lost the final 11-8 to Luke Humphries Credit: Reuters 7 The pair appeared to confirm their relationship with this photo on Instagram in May Credit: Instagram It was disappointment for Littler, who was cheered on by Faith Millar in the VIP section. The duo struck up a friendship after meeting in February. READ MORE ON LUKE LITTLER Faith is said to have met Littler's parents by the time the pair were And in May, they went public with a The Nuke had not been in a relationship since Most read in Darts CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS But during the final defeat to Humphries on Thursday night, the TV cameras cut briefly to the Littler support clan. And among them was Faith, cheering on her rumoured boyfriend in a red sleeveless top alongside Littler's dad Anthony Buckley and mum Lisa Littler. Luke Littler narrowly avoids being hit by object thrown onto O2 stage during Premier League Darts finals The darts superstar came from behind to But his dreams of repeating his heroic exploits of 12 months ago were dashed by a red-hot Humphries. 7 Humphries got his hands on the trophy at long last Credit: Reuters 7 Littler celebrated winning the 2024 Premier League with his ex-girlfriend Eloise Milburn Credit: instagram 7 Anthony Buckley and Lisa Littler joined their son at SPOTY last year Credit: PA
Wales Online
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Mark Williams' massive net worth, surgery fears and wife's public outrage
Mark Williams' massive net worth, surgery fears and wife's public outrage Mark Williams' wife was publicly incensed World Snooker following a video game omission. Mark Williams is in another World Championship semi-final. (Image: (Photo by) ) Mark Williams is taking a 13-11 lead into the final session against Judd Trump at the World Snooker Championships on Saturday night. The Welshman became the oldest semi-finalist since 1985 after booking his place in the last four with a win over John Higgins earlier this week. The former world champion is hoping to secure that title again for the first time since 2018. However, standing in his way is world number one Trump, who last won the competition six years ago. Williams came into his own on Saturday morning, potting with superb accuracy and playing with efficiency. And the man from Cwm has been doing all of that while playing with a disruptive health condition. The 50-year-old has been struggling with an eye condition that is going to require surgery at some point. He has previously stated that his vision has deteriorated so badly over the past six months that he sometimes sees "three or four balls at a time". He provided an update this week, detailing his hesitancy to have the surgery based on testaments from those who've had the procedure. Article continues below "I have been reading up and talking to people who have had it done and I've got to be honest, it is putting me off a bit," he says. "I've got a big decision to make. "A couple of people I have spoken to, especially Anthony Hamilton at length, have said it is no good under the lights and it has ruined his career. "It has sort of put me under pressure. After this is finished, it is something I am going to have to look more into." The Welshman's long history in the sport has earned him a lot of prize money. According to Williams' net worth is £7.1 million. According to OLBG, he earned £438,500 last season, and if he wins the World Championship this year, he'll bolster his net worth by a further £500,000. Williams has been married to wife Joanne for 14 years, and she hails from Hartlepool. The couple have three sons together - Conor, Kian and Joel. She previously stated that their marriage "shouldn't have worked", but their love proved people wrong. Writing on their 25th anniversary of being together, she wrote on social media: "An English girl, a Welsh boy working on different sides of the world, it shouldn't have worked but we proved them wrong." Article continues below Williams won the World Championship in 2018, so it came as a surprise to many when he was left off the front cover of the following season's video game. She suggested it could be because he was Welsh and labelled it as "massively prejudice". Her statement reads as follows: "Snooker in general doesn't get the praise deserved and is constantly overlooked at the SPOTY awards. How do they expect others to respect the game when they don't even support their own World Champion #baffled." The video game had previously responded to her outrage by saying: "There are 128 players in the game and only space for four on the cover. We were never going to be able to please everyone so we worked with World Snooker to make the tough decision."
