Mary Fowler has opened up about a painful experience during her final days at French club Montpellier, describing how an incident involving bananas left her feeling disrespected and singled out. In her new memoir Bloom, the young forward reflects on her challenging time in France, where several unsettling moments contributed to what she describes as an unhappy chapter in her early football career.
At the end of the 2022 season, Fowler was among a group of players who were set to leave the club. During the farewell gestures distributed to departing teammates, most received flowers. Fowler and a close friend of hers—also an international player and one of the few Black women in the squad—received nothing at first. Confusion filled the dressing room as teammates questioned the inconsistency. Shortly afterward, another player approached and handed Fowler and her friend bananas. While some around them laughed, Fowler says the gesture was deeply uncomfortable.
She explains that although she tried to consider alternative explanations, the context made it difficult to view the situation as harmless. She notes that as two of only six Black players in the team, the symbolism of being handed bananas could not easily be brushed aside. The incident echoed other experiences at the club where she and her friend felt similarly alienated or undervalued.
The forward also reveals that during her time at Montpellier she was accused by some staff members of exaggerating or faking chest pains, despite warnings from national team medical staff about a potential health concern. According to Fowler, a physio confided that several coaches believed she was avoiding playing rather than reporting legitimate symptoms. She confronted a coach and insisted she would not play until she received proper medical evaluation, a stance she says was met with little empathy.
Although she was eventually permitted to rest and later cleared of serious heart issues after further tests, Fowler recalls the ordeal as distressing and isolating. Looking back, she says the combination of racial insensitivity and lack of support made her years in France particularly difficult.
Despite these challenges, Fowler emphasizes her gratitude that the health scare did not jeopardize her career. She now hopes that sharing her experiences will shed light on the realities some players face and contribute to a safer, more respectful environment in women’s football.
