A lionfish at SEALIFE Manchester has been named after England goalkeeper Mary Earps.
A lionfish at SEALIFE Manchester has been named after Mary Earps
The renaming of the fish has been carried out in honour of the footballer winning BBC Sports Personality of the Year at the ceremony on Tuesday (19.12.23) night.
Earps has enjoyed an excellent 2023 as she was named the Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper in February as well as earning the FIFA World Cup Golden Glove at the tournament in the summer.
She was also named in the PFA Women's Super League Team of the Year for her performances for Manchester United during the 2022/23 season and claimed the England Women's Player of the Year for her displays on the international stage.
Lionfish are known for their venomous fin spines and are mainly found in warm tropic waters - relying on their unusual colour and distinctive fins to discourage predators.
Jenn McDonough, General Manager at SEA LIFE Manchester, said: "We are all so proud to see Manchester United’s Mary Earps named BBC Sports Personality of the Year. Her performances at club level and for England have been truly inspiring and she has done some much to increase the popularity of the women’s game.
"On top of how she’s played on the field, Mary has been a constant voice in encouraging others to follow their dreams and be the best person they can be, which is something we believe everyone can get behind.
"We chose to name a Lionfish after Mary due to the link with the Lionesses, we’re hoping one day Mary can come along and visit her namesake for herself!"