Mary Fowler opens up about having to live in cars and tents with her big family when she was on 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 those hard times paved her way to international football stardom.

The Manchester City winger – who is just 21 – is preparing for her second Olympic Games in Paris come July.

It was a process which began at Trinity Beach in Cairns when Fowler was starting school.

Along with her four siblings, countless hours were spent taking part in a ‘mini Olympics‘, which involved running races, throwing sticks and kicking a football.

‘It was really fun [at Trinity Beach],’ Fowler recalled.

Mary Fowler (pictured second on the right, with her family) has four siblings – and spent many nights as a child sleeping in the family car or in tents

Fowler’s dad Kevin (right) met his wife Nido when travelling through her village in Papua New Guinea

‘After school, we would go down to the beach and that’s where we’d spend most of our time.

‘We came up with any little challenges and made it a competitive game because there were so many of us.’

With multiple mouths to feed, money wasn’t plentiful for the Fowler family.

At times they slept in cars and tents, but Fowler is adamant those tough days help her overcome adversity in life, even if she is now living the dream as a professional footballer.

‘It was difficult, but that’s something that’s been a strength of our family; we take things as they are and kind of make the most of it,’ Fowler told 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 lessons came from that.

‘But there were also sacrifices that I don’t take lightly. It’s made me the person I am today.’

Athletically gifted, a raw Fowler made her debut for the Matildas aged just 15

Off the pitch, Fowler is dating NRL superstar Nathan Cleary, with the couple confirming their relationship last year

Fowler is now a globally recognised athlete after her heroics at the 2023 World Cup 

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 caravan parks and tents kept his five kids stay grounded, with the family car dubbed ‘Hotel Tarago’ due to the frequency with which all seven family members stayed inside the vehicle.

Athletically gifted, Fowler soon caught the eye of representative scouts in Queensland, representing the state in an under-12s 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 then Matildas coach Alen Stajcic handed the attacking ace a senior cap.

Fowler was just 15.

Stajcic – the current coach of Perth Glory men’s team – knew instantly Fowler was a special talent, pointing to her technique and explosivity. 

Fast forward to 2024 and Fowler is a hero for countless football fans globally – and her long distance relationship with NRL superstar Nathan Cleary also ensures plenty of attention off the pitch.

Fowler shared a photo of herself on Instagram showing her relaxing on a beach in far 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 is the limit’ for Fowler, who is ready to dazzle the crowds as the Matildas chase an Olympic medal.

‘I get a massive kick from being able to assist the team by getting a goal or getting an assist. As an attacker, that’s my role,’ Fowler said.

‘I think being able to do that on a big stage, in a big tournament, friends and family watching, makes it even more special.

‘When I imagine myself at the Olympics, that’s what I rehearse myself doing.’