Advice from famous footballers Mary Earps and Ollie Watkins

Mary Earps and Ollie Watkins are here to give some great advice to the up-and-coming stars of HAWX Academy, see what they have to say!

A poster of Ollie and a phone with Mary on

Who are Mary Earps and Ollie Watkins?

Mary Earps is a professional goalkeeper and winner of the 2023 BBC Sports Personality of the Year. She always shows up for her young fans, including when she met her Ava in Football Academy. She gave Ava some amazing tips, including what she keeps in her kit bag and how she stays prepared for matches.

Ollie Watkins is a professional forward for Aston Villa and in May 2026 became the club's all-time leading Premier League goal scorer, breaking the 100-goal mark for Villa.

Advice from Mary Earps

Here are her three pieces of advice:

  • I know it's hard when the world is trying to tell you who to be, but you have to remember who you really are

  • What you do everyday will determine where you end up

  • Be unapologetically yourself

Don't try to fit into someone else's box. Whether you're trying to be the best player, achieve top grades in school or even being a good friend to others, take it day by day and stay true to who you are! Be the person you want to be.

Advice from Ollie Watkins

Here are his three pieces of advice:

  • It's a long road to get to the top

  • You can't take anything for granted

  • You have to earn it, every step of the way

You might be top of your class but you have to keep working hard to stay at the top. That's how you become the G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time)! Just because you aced a quiz at school doesn't mean the next one will come easily. Only through dedication, discipline and passion will you achieve your dreams. You can do it!

Watch the latest series of Jamie Johnson FC

Series 4 has landed on CBBC and BBC iPlayer. 

It’s all change at Hawx Academy as former Foxborough player, Charlie, must prove herself to her teammates, their new coach and an all-access documentary crew. How will the presence of the new documentary affect players, their training and their friendships? This series is full of hard work, challenges, drama and competition. Will friendships last when the documentary comes out? Watch on CBBC and BBC iPlayer to stay up to date with the latest episodes.

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