Matildas superstar opens up on ‘crazy’ fame, football... and why Aussies can win a medal in Paris
On July 27, 2018, a gifted young striker made her debut for the Matildas, replacing Sam Kerr in the fourth minute of stoppage time for the briefest of cameo appearances.
Mary Fowler, just 15 years old, had not even made a professional league appearance at that point.
Yet she was already being discussed in superlative terms. A ‘tremendous weapon’, the ‘next Sam Kerr’, a future Matildas superstar, and so on.
A fortnight ago, Fowler became the second-youngest player to reach 50 international caps for the Matildas, notching the milestone just two weeks after her 21st birthday – and celebrating with a goal and an assist as the Matildas booked their ticket to Paris.
Having starred in the Matildas’ record-breaking Women’s World Cup run last year, Fowler looms as a key figure as the team hunts a first-ever Olympics medal.
She has gone from kicking a ball with her siblings on the beaches of Cairns to playing for English giants Manchester City – and become one of the most recognisable names in Australian sport.
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But reflecting on her meteoric rise, Fowler says she still considers herself “someone super normal (who) gets to play the sport that I enjoy playing for my living.”
Fowler has now teamed up with Uber and the Australian Sports Foundation for a campaign supporting community sports, seeking to find Australia’s most deserving reserve grade community team. The winning club will earn $50,000 [more below].
She spoke to Foxsports.com.au about her own journey from community sport to the heights of the Matildas and Manchester City.
HOW MARY FELL IN LOVE WITH FOOTBALL
Born in Cairns as one of five siblings,
Read on foxsports.com.au
