Mary Fowler opens up about having to live in cars and tents with her large family as she made her way to football stardom
Matildas superstar Mary Fowler has opened up about her humble beginnings – including sleeping in tents and at times living in a car – and how the tough times paved her way to international football stardom.
The Manchester City winger – who is just 21 – is preparing for his second Olympic Games in Paris in July.
It was a process that began at Trinity Beach in Cairns when Fowler started school.
Together with his four siblings, countless hours were spent participating in a ‘mini-Olympics’, which consisted of running races, throwing sticks and kicking a soccer ball.
“It was really fun (at Trinity Beach),” Fowler recalled.
Matildas superstar Mary Fowler has opened up about her humble beginnings – including sleeping in tents and living in a car – which she believed paved the way to football stardom
Mary Fowler (pictured second right, with her family) has four siblings – and spent many nights as a child sleeping in the family car or in a tent
Fowler’s father Kevin (right) met his wife Nido when he traveled through her village in Papua New Guinea
‘After school we went down to the beach and that’s where we spent most of our time.
‘We came up with little challenges and made it a competitive game because there were so many of us.’
With more mouths to feed, money was not plentiful for the Fowler family.
At times they slept in cars and tents, but Fowler is determined that the hard days help her overcome adversity in life, even though she is now living her dream of being a professional footballer.
‘It was difficult, but it is something that has been our family’s strength; we take things as they are and kind of make the best of it,’ Fowler shared Wide world of sports.
‘That’s how I’ve lived my life since then. It’s just making the most of what you have and trying to focus on the good. So I think a lot of learning came from that.
“But there were also victims, which I do not take lightly. It has made me the person I am today.’
Athletically gifted, a raw Fowler made his debut for the Matildas aged just 15
Off the field, Fowler is dating NRL superstar Nathan Cleary, with the pair confirming their relationship last year
Fowler is now a globally recognized athlete following her heroics at the 2023 World Championships
The electrifying winger plays for Manchester City in the Women’s Super League in England
Her father Kevin is Irish and he married Nido who grew up in a village in Papua New Guinea.
Kevin Fowler also believes sleeping in caravans and tents kept his five children grounded, with the family car dubbed the ‘Hotel Tarago’ due to the frequency with which all seven family members stayed inside the vehicle.
Athletically gifted, Fowler soon caught the eye of Queensland representative scouts, representing the state in an under-12 tournament aged just 10.
Next was a family move to Europe, where Fowler represented BVV Barendrecht in the Netherlands until she was 14.
The Young Matildas followed before Matildas coach Alen Stajcic presented the attacking ace with a senior cap.
Fowler was only 15.
Stajcic – the current coach of the Perth Glory men’s team – knew immediately that Fowler was a special talent, pointing to her technique and explosiveness.
Fast forward to 2024 and Fowler is a hero to countless football fans globally – and her long-distance relationship with NRL superstar Nathan Cleary ensures plenty of attention off the pitch too.
Fowler shared a photo of herself on Instagram showing her relaxing on a beach in north Queensland, where she visited her family in Cairns for Christmas last year
Her heroics at the World Cup last year on home soil confirmed her status as a genuine superstar – and with Matildas captain Sam Kerr not playing in Paris due to a knee injury, all eyes will be on Fowler.
Not that it will worry her.
Teammate Steph Catley believes the “sky’s the limit” for Fowler, who is ready to dazzle the crowds as the Matildas chase an Olympic medal.
‘I get a massive kick out of being able to assist the team by getting a goal or getting an assist. As a forward, that’s my role,” Fowler said.
‘I think to be able to do it on a big stage, in a big tournament, with friends and family watching, makes it even more special.
‘When I imagine myself at the Olympics, this is what I practice doing.’