by THIS IS A KEEPER
Chris “Pacemaker” Chataway, Henry “Ammer” Cooper, Princess “John Reid” Anne, David “Bank Clerk” Steele, Steve “Kellogg’s Start” Cram, Torvill “And” Dean, Steve “Interesting” Davis, Michael “Trust” Owen , Andy “Knack” Murray, Mark “Cav” Cavendish, Lewis “Hammo” Hamilton and, last year, Beth “Meado” Mead: winners, one and all. Yes, Spoty season is here. And Mary Earps, England’s goalkeeper who failed to qualify for the 2023 Women’s World Cup final, is this year’s expected winner, who will be her second Lioness in a row.
Next Tuesday, Gary Lineker, Clare Balding, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott will present the 70th edition of the annual awards and it will be the usual mix of highlights, interviews, montages and what used to be called “wheezes” – think. Damon Hill in a go-kart race and Colin Jackson or John Virgo play trick shots with Sandy Lyle’s putter.
Earps is a credit to Manchester United, an unimpeachable star far beyond any of Erik ten Hag’s duffers. She really has personality, and this used to be a common green ink complaint during the 1990s and 2000s about giving gongs to people who won things effectively and/or drove vroom-vroom cars. She delivered a special moment, too.
It’s hardly the ladies’ football version of the Sex Pistols’ Bill Grundy interview but it will be interesting to see how Auntie Beeb portrays Earpsy’s most iconic (yuk, sorry) moment. She saves a penalty from Spain’s Jennifer Hermoso in the World Cup final, and celebrates – “[eff]yes, [eff] off” – as relatable as any sporting moment in 2023. All previous winners have needed their unique selling point, from Steele in the 1975s facing the chaos of Australia’s fast bowling attack to Princess Anne and Zara Phillips as members actually of the Royal Family.
Still, this is a democratic event, voted for by the people of Great Britain, so those pub types who still refuse to roll out the “welcome” mat to women’s football will just have to deal with it the evening. Not only is Earps the clear bookies’ favorite, it’s also a top commercial property. On Monday the latest batch of Earps England No 1 shirts sold out in five minutes from the FA’s online shop. That happened after Earps herself questioned why these weren’t for sale while she was in Australia. In October, his shirts were subsequently sold over time and now, pub bores listen up, for the same amounts as the England man’s keeper.
STATEMENT OF THE DAY
“I grew up thinking about going to university. I was alone. I was reading a lot of books. I was spending a lot of time playing PlayStation or sleeping in the afternoon or something. Why can’t I use this time to continue studying? I was also interested in sports business and the American perspective.” – Giorgio Chiellini, who wanted to pursue medicine like his father and obtained his master’s in business administration from the University of Turin while at Juventus, explains that the decision to leave LAFC was not only related to development on the field. And he’s only gone in retirement since this interview was published, hasn’t it?
DAILY FOOTBALL LETTERS
As someone who unfortunately has to be on TwiXer for work purposes, I was hoping everyone outside of social media shame would ignore Barton’s latest insensitive remarks as he tries to reinvent himself and rehabilitate himself once again . As the late, late Linda Smith said of former MP Neil Hamilton (all the way back in the days when the Conservative party was still in government but collapsing due to incompetence and corruption. Ahem…):’ I don’t really like how you say his name, because it gives him the oxygen of publicity and I’m not happy with the oxygen of oxygen.” – Noble Francis.
I’m surprised no political hack has reported that ‘Sunak has lost the dressing room’” – Kevin Worley.
Kalvin Phillips should tell Pep to apologize when the sun isn’t shining and return home to Leeds. We should apologize for not fighting harder to keep him at Elland Road” – Mick Beeby.
Call yourself a journalist [um … Football Daily Ed]! Of course, Everton’s win over Chelsea wasn’t interesting enough to warrant any comment. Three wins, no goals conceded. Hello, please wake up! Perhaps you could give us your thoughts on our appeal but I’m not holding my breath” – Anthony Astbury.
Stop talking about marrying David Moyes (yesterday’s news, bits and bobs – full email edition) and start building a statue of him” – Hamish Brown.
With the many acronyms in Still Want Mores yesterday, I can congratulate Richard Herring on his appointment at Daily Towers” - Darren Leathley.
That’s not an acronym. It is an abbreviation. First some pedants” – Guy Redmill (and, strangely, no one else).
Send any letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s letter winner is … Kevin Worley, who receives a copy of Reign of the Lionesses, published by Pitch Publishing. Visit their amazing football book store here.
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