MATILDAS star Mary Fowler has been described as Australian women’s football’s “next big thing”.
From her success on the pitch to the reason why she wears gloves – here’s everything you need to know.
GettyMary Fowler has been described as Australian women’s football’s “next big thing”[/caption]
Who is Mary Fowler?
Mary Fowler, born February 14, 2003, is an Australian professional footballer.
The sports star, who plays mainly as a forward, is also able able to play as a midfielder.
The daughter of an Irish father and Papua New Guinean mother, Fowler comes from a footballing family with her elder siblings Caoimhin and Ciara having both played for the Republic of Ireland’s youth sides, while the latter also represented Australia at Under-20 level.
At the age of 10, Fowler was already playing for the Queensland state U12s team.
Fowler’s family then relocated to the Netherlands – where she signed with BVV Barendrecht.
Discussing this period of her life, Fowler explained: “At that time, everybody in my family was playing football and my dad had work over there, as well.
“Going to Holland and being able to be part of that culture and playing on the streets after school every day, and being from the family I am from – we have five kids in our family and we play football pretty much every day.
“It has been instrumental to me, playing in all these different environments and seeing the kind of laws from league-to-league because they are different from each other.”
After spending three years away from home, at the age of 14, Fowler and her family moved back to Australia – where she would later play in the NSW Women’s National Premier League before signing with Adelaide United in the W-League.
She played one season in the W-League, scoring three goals in seven appearances, before she was back on her travels.
This time, however, she was flying to the sunny south coast of France to play for Montpellier, one month shy of her 17th birthday.
Fowler now plays in in the English WSL and enjoys a successful international career.
Away from the pitch, Fowler fronted Adidas‘ 2023 World Cup campaign with Lionel Messi, David Beckham and actress Jenna Ortega, in an bid to inspire women and young girls to play the game.
What club does Mary Fowler play for?
The professional footballer plays for English Women’s Super League club Manchester City and the Australia women’s national team – making her international debut at the tender age of 15, against Brazil at the 2018 Tournament of Nations.
Fowler impressed so much that she went on to be selected for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 squad and then again for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
She was also selected as part of the Matildas squad for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
A year prior to this, in June 2022, Manchester City announced the signing of the Australian international star on a four-year contract.
Why does Mary Fowler wear gloves?
With so many eyes on the Matildas, it comes as no surprise that eagle-eyed football fans want to know everything they can about the team – including why Fowler wears gloves.
Discussing the trademark gloves during an interview, Fowler said the reason she keeps them on is because she is a self-confessed fidget.
She explained: “I honestly just wear gloves because I get really fidgety. Usually I train with a ring on, but if it’s cold, I wear gloves, and I can’t wear a ring in a match, so I usually wear gloves.”