Mary Fowler (soccer)

Mary Boio Fowler (born 14 February 2003) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays for English Women's Super League club Manchester City and the Australia women's national team. Mainly a forward, she is also able to play as a midfielder.

Mary Fowler
Fowler with Adelaide United in 2019
Personal information
Full name Mary Boio Fowler
Date of birth (2003-02-14) 14 February 2003
Place of birth Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Forward, midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Manchester City
Number 8
Youth career
Home Farm
Saints FC
Leichhardt FC
BVV Barendrecht
ESA
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019 Illawarra Stingrays 9 (3)
2019 Bankstown City 4 (3)
2019–2020 Adelaide United 7 (3)
2020–2022 Montpellier 40 (10)
2022– Manchester City 12 (3)
International career‡
2018–2019 Australia U20 10 (17)
2018– Australia 39 (11)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:20, 31 May 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 01:15, 31 July 2023 (UTC)

After being selected for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup squad, Fowler scored the winning goal in a pre-World Cup friendly against France in July 2023.

Early life and education

Fowler was born on 14 February 2003 in Cairns, Queensland.[1] Her father, Kevin,[2] is from Ireland[3] and her mother, Nido, is from Kira Kira, a village within greater Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, where the couple met. Fowler is the second-eldest of a family of five children, all keen on football. Mary is her paternal grandmother's name, while Boio is that of her maternal grandmother.[2]

Fowler played junior football for Saints FC as well as Leichhardt FC in the local Cairns league while attending Holy Cross School.[4] At the age of 10, she played for the Queensland state under-12s team. A year later she moved with her family to the Netherlands where they lived for three years, during which she was signed to BVV Barendrecht[5] and learnt to speak Dutch fluently.[6] She returned to Australia with her family at age 14 and began attending Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts[6] as well as later playing for Bankstown City in the NSW Women's National Premier League.[5]

Club career

Adelaide United

Fowler made her W-League debut for Adelaide United in the first game of the 2019–20 season. She scored her first goal in that game in a 2–1 loss against Western Sydney Wanderers.[7]

Montpellier

In January 2020, Fowler signed for French Ligue 1 club Montpellier HSC on a three-year contract after an undisclosed transfer fee was paid.[8] She made her debut against Olympique Lyonnais in February 2020.

She was named to ESPN's 21 under 21, an international list of footballers representing the next generation of talent, in May 2021.[8]

Manchester City

In June 2022, Fowler signed a four-year contract with English FA WSL club Manchester City.[9][10]

International career

2018 Tournament of Nations

In 2018, Fowler was added to the Australian squad for the Tournament of Nations.[11] She made her debut late in the game against Brazil, thus becoming the fifth youngest player for the Matildas at 15 years and 162 days.[12] She was again used as a substitute in Australia's friendlies against England and France later in the year,[13] but was unavailable for the matches against Chile to attend trials with the first teams of Chelsea, West Ham and Manchester City, who all wanted to sign her. She also attended sprint and power training sessions in Manchester with coach Mick Clegg.[14]

Fowler has received wide praise for her abilities as a player, with coach Alen Stajcic saying that she has "probably got the most weapons I've seen from a young player her age in women's football".[11]

2019 FIFA Women's World Cup

Fowler was called up to the Australian squad for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.[15]

2020 Summer Olympics

Fowler was selected to the Australian squad for the 2020 Summer Olympics.[16] She made her Olympic debut as a substitute in a Group G match against New Zealand. The Matildas advanced to the quarter-finals with one victory and a draw in the group stage. In the quarter-finals against Great Britain, which ended in a 4–3 win for Australia after extra time, Fowler scored a goal in the 104th minute. However, they lost 1–0 to Sweden in the semi-finals and lost 4–3 in the bronze medal match to the United States.[17]

2023 FIFA Women's World Cup

Fowler was selected as part of the Matildas squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup,[18] and became instrumental in the team after squad captain Sam Kerr was ruled out for at least the first two games due to injury.[2][19] She had scored the winning goal in a friendly against France in the week preceding the beginning of the tournament,[20] in front of a record crowd.[21]

She was ruled out of Australia's second match against Nigeria on 27 July due to concussion.[22]

On 31 July, Fowler scored her first World Cup goal for Australia, against Canada in Melbourne in what was a 4–0 win.[23]

On 7 August in the Round of 16 game against Denmark, Fowler's pin-point assist pass to Caitlin Foord set up the first goal for Australia to take the score to 1–0.[24][25]

Personal life

Fowler's siblings are also talented soccer players, with her brother Caoimhin and sister Ciara both having played for Irish youth teams. Ciara has also played for the Australian under-20 team.[3]

Fowler began her professional career together with Ciara when they were both signed by Adelaide United in the same year.[26] They played together professionally for the first time in the first match of the 2019–20 season when Ciara came on as an 85th-minute substitute. This was the debut for both sisters.[7]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 27 May 2023[27]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] League cup[lower-alpha 2] Continental[lower-alpha 3] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Adelaide United 2019–20 W-League 73— ——73
Montpellier HSC 2019–20 D1 Féminine 1000 ——10
2020–21 22510 ——235
2021–22 17510 ——185
Total 40102000ß04210
Manchester City 2022–23 WSL 111306420194
Career total 58145064206817
  1. includes Coupe de France, Women's FA Cup
  2. includes Women's League Cup
  3. includes UEFA Women's Champions League

International
As of match played 31 July 2023[28]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National Team YearAppsGoals
Australia 201830
201910
202000
2021165
2022124
2023 7 2
Total3911
Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Fowler goal.
List of international goals scored by Mary Fowler
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 10 June 2021CASA Arena, Horsens, Denmark Denmark1–32–3Friendly[29]
2 30 July 2021Kashima Soccer Stadium, Kashima, Japan Great Britain3–24–32020 Summer Olympics[30]
3 21 September 2021Tallaght Stadium, Dublin, Ireland Republic of Ireland1–12–3Friendly[31]
4 2–2
5 23 October 2021Western Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia Brazil2–03–1Friendly[32]
6 21 January 2022Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai, India Indonesia4–018–02022 AFC Women's Asian Cup[33]
7 24 January 2022 Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai, India Philippines4–04–0[34]
8 6 September 2022Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, Australia Canada1–01–2Friendly[35]
9 12 November 2022AAMI Park, Melbourne, Australia Sweden3–04–0Friendly[36]
10 14 July 2023Docklands Stadium, Melbourne, Australia France1–01–0Friendly[37]
11 31 July 2023Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne, Australia Canada3–04–02023 FIFA Women's World Cup[38]


References
  1. "Australia – M. Fowler – Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccer way. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  2. Rugari, Vince (25 July 2023). "Women's World Cup 2023: Matildas star Mary Fowler sees PNG turn green and gold". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  3. Paquette, Catherine (1 June 2021). "'Magnifique' Matildas continue to win global recognition". The Women's Game. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  4. Testa, Christopher (11 August 2023). "Holy Cross School in Cairns shares fond memories of Mary Fowler". ABC News. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  5. Buratti, Liana (11 August 2023). "23 – Mary Fowler: "I'm most proud of how I've changed as person."". Matildas. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  6. Greg Baum (11 August 2023). "A tale of seven cities and one beach: How Mary Fowler got to the World Cup stage". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  7. "Western Sydney Wanderers FC Women vs Adelaide United Women, Westfield W-League, Round 1, 14th Nov 2019". Westfield W-League. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  8. Rugari, Vince (29 January 2020). "Teenage Matildas star Mary Fowler set for French club move". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  9. "'Excited and proud': Australia forward Mary Fowler joins Manchester City". The Guardian. 29 June 2022.
  10. Lewis, Samantha (8 July 2022). "How Matildas and Manchester City star Mary Fowler is finding her Zen". ABC News (Australia). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  11. "Australia adds second wonderkid to Tournament of Nations squad". ESPN.com. 18 July 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  12. "Australia's Mary Fowler makes international football debut at age 15". The Guardian. 27 July 2018. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  13. "Matildas salvage draw against England with late Polkinghorne header". ABC News. 10 October 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  14. Warren, Adrian (5 November 2018). "Matildas hope talented teenager Fowler not lost to Australia". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  15. "Kyah Simon fitness concerns open door to Mary Fowler in Matildas' World Cup squad". The Guardian. 13 May 2019. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  16. "Tokyo 2020 a childhood goal ticked off for Mary Fowler". Matildas. 13 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  17. "Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo 2021". The Roar. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  18. "Matildas squad announced: FIFA Women's World Cup 2023™". Matildas. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  19. Kemp, Emma (21 July 2023). "Women's football star Mary Fowler is poised to step into Sam Kerr's spotlight". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  20. Lewis, Samantha (14 July 2023). "Matildas beat France 1–0 thanks to Mary Fowler's goal in final 2023 Women's World Cup send-off match". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  21. Harrington, Anna (14 July 2023). "Matildas Australia vs France 2023: Mary Fowler scores the winning goal in friendly women's soccer match". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  22. "More Matildas injury woe as Mary Fowler ruled out of Women's World Cup clash against Nigeria". The Guardian. 26 July 2023.
  23. "Australia beats Canada, 4–0, to win Group B". The Washington Post. 1 August 2023.
  24. "Matildas vs Denmark live updates: Australia ahead after Mary Fowler's classy act". 7 August 2023.
  25. McKern, James (7 August 2023). "Fans blown away by Mary Fowler's brilliance to set up opening goal". news.com.au. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  26. "Signing news: Adelaide United secure Mary and Ciara Fowler". Matildas. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  27. "Mary Fowler". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  28. "Australia – M. Fowler – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway".
  29. "Denmark vs. Australia – 10 June 2021 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  30. "Great Britain vs. Australia – 30 July 2021 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  31. "Republic of Ireland vs. Australia – 21 September 2021 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  32. "Australia vs. Brazil – 23 October 2021 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  33. "Australia vs. Indonesia – 21 January 2022 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  34. "Philippines vs. Australia – 24 January 2022 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  35. "Australia vs. Canada – 6 September 2022 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  36. "Australia vs. Sweden – 12 November 2022 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  37. "Australia vs. France – 14 July 2023 – Soccerway". my.soccerway.com. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  38. Colasimone, Dan (31 July 2023). "Matildas vs Canada: Australia wins 4–0 to progress to the Women's World Cup round of 16". ABC News.

Further reading
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