Mary Fowler reveals she was given bananas instead of flowers as leaving gift by former teammate | OneFootball

Mary Fowler (right) revealed she was given bananas as a leaving gift when departing Montpellier in 2020 (Natalie Mincher/SPP)

Manchester City star Mary Fowler has claimed that she and a former teammate were given bananas instead of flowers upon their departures from French side Montpellier in 2022.

The Australian international made the move to France at the age of 17, where she stayed for two seasons before joining Manchester City in 2022.

However, in her recently released autobiography ‘Bloom’, she alleges that she received a racist ‘gift’ when leaving the club.

Mary Fowler recalls being given bananas by former teammate at Montpellier

In a chapter titled ‘Not so great days’ in her new autobiography, Fowler recalled a post-match presentation after her final home game for departing players.

While several departing players were given flowers, Fowler claims that she and another player, Ashleigh Weerden, did not receive flowers and were instead given bananas.

She wrote: “When we got inside the changing room, some of our teammates questioned why we hadn’t received any flowers … a few of the girls laughed about it and then one of the other players came over and handed my friend and me some bananas.

“Not receiving flowers was one thing, but as two of only six black girls in the squad, receiving bananas wasn’t something I could laugh off and forget about.

Mary Fowler (No 11) made the claims in her new autobiography ‘Bloom’

“Was it an accident? Was it the only thing in the dressing room she could give us? Did she mean well by it? I’ve tried to justify it in many different ways. But when I add in the many other times at the club when we were left feeling a similar way, it was hard to see it as merely a simple error.”

Fowler revealed she has recently revisited the incident with Weerden, who is now at Crystal Palace, but wishes she did more at the time.

The 23-year-old also recalled another incident during her time at Montpellier, where a physiotherapist allegedly accused her of faking chest pains after a club doctor had dismissed her claims.

‘I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Frustrated, I told him I wasn’t making it up, that I could never make up something that could be related to my heart,’ she said.

SheKicks has contacted Montpellier for a comment.

What else has Fowler said in her new book?

Fowler also revealed in her new autobiography that she almost took her own life before her 20th birthday.

In her autobiography, she wrote: “One night, I got closer than ever before. In that moment, I didn’t follow through. But I did sit there for most of the night pleading for anyone up above who would listen to please just take me.”

The Manchester City star said she considered walking away from football as she had “a bit of an identity crisis, trying to deal with the expectation to perform”.

Fowler has gone on to become a vital player for club and country, scoring 21 goals in 86 appearances for Manchester City. She has also netted 16 times in 63 caps for Australia.

She was recently named Australia’s Young Women’s Player of the Year for the third year in a row, and also last month signed a new contract extension with Manchester City.

Racism in women’s football

Fowler’s admission over her experience at Montpellier comes after other instances of racism in women’s football over recent months.

England star Jess Carter was subjected to online racist abuse while playing for the Lionesses at Euro 2025.

Carter gave out a statement at the time insisting she would take a step back from social media following the abusive messages.

Tottenham star Jessica Naz received racial abuse after Tottenham’s penalty shootout win over Aston Villa in the Women’s League Cup in September.

This led to Tottenham players deciding not to take the knee as an anti-racism gesture.

London City Lionesses star Nikita Parris agreed with Tottenham players, insisting that the gesture has “lost its sentiment”.

There have also been instances of racism in the men’s game this season. Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo and Tottenham’s Mathys Tel are among players to have been subjected to racial discrimination.