It’s the twinkle in her eye and her wide infectious smile that tells you the hunger for the game still burns bright for Fran Kirby before she says a word.
The body might have endured its fair share of injuries and setbacks over the years, but Kirby’s mind retains the same desire for football as in the early days when she first started at Reading.
In June last year, Kirby announced his international retirement a month before the start of England’s defense of their European Championship, having three years earlier played a central role in the Lionesses’ run to a historic triumph on home soil.
But closing in on two seasons at Brighton this spring following her move from Chelsea, where she won a plethora of trophies and personal accolades, it’s clear the 32-year-old doesn’t see life on the south coast as a lovely time by the sea or an opportunity to relax.
“When you come into a new team, you try to find your feet a little bit, but I didn’t really feel like I had to,” says Kirby Sky Sports in Brighton’s impressive Elite Football Performance Center as she reflects on the early days after taking up the post.
“I just felt like I became part of the furniture.”
In her first season with the club, Brighton achieved their highest ever Women’s Super League finish of fifth.
This campaign Kirby admits the team has struggled for consistency and defeats to teams around them, most recently against West Ham, where they collapsed from 2-0 down to lose 3-2 with three late goals, and London City before the international break, leaves them eighth in the table and a tall order to match or better last year’s success.
Kirby says she is still learning as a player by working with “incredible” coach Dario Vidosic, who is currently on a leave of absence for personal reasons and although she admits in “the final stages of my career”.
Her bank of experience and success – winning 77 caps for England, seven WSL titles, five Women’s FA Cups, two Women’s League Cups during her Chelsea years, as well as personal accolades of PFA Women’s Players’ Player of the Year twice (2018, 2021), FWA’s Women’s Footballer of the Year twice and 2021 means she is nominated for her ball – 2021. teammates.
Kirby enjoyed incredible success at Chelsea and remains their all-time leading goalscorer
She knows her “tough love” approach will be well received by her younger teammates, with Brighton boasting one of the youngest squads in the WSL, led by captain Masie Symonds at just 23.
“I came from a very demanding environment in terms of a team that wants to dominate, always wants to win trophies and win football games. And I think I just tried to bring that experience here,” Kirby said.
“It’s different coming into a building when you have a lot of younger players who are maybe just starting out in their careers or trying to find their feet more in the WSL. You have to take into account what everyone is trying to achieve. And I’ve really enjoyed it.
“Sometimes the girls might think I’m a little hard on them, but that’s because I know what they can do. I know what they’re capable of. I see them in practice every day and you can see the way we play football. I want to help them feel that confidence and be able to go on and achieve some great things.”
Kirby says that for some of her teammates it could have been an “eye opener,” but she only wants to instill the same level of drive and ambition that is built into her.
“I think sometimes they get a little tired of me, but generally they love me and they know what I want to help them achieve.”
‘Brighton can still ruffle some feathers in the title race’
Clearly a self-motivated individual with plenty of drive and ambition, Kirby’s passion for the game was matched and taken to new heights by working under Emma Hayes throughout her tenure at Chelsea after joining in 2014.
Chelsea, now in their second season with Sonia Bompastor at the helm after winning their sixth straight WSL title last year, have fallen from their blistering perch this season, 10 points adrift of leaders Manchester City, which looks set to end Chelsea’s dominance. Although they retained the Women’s League Cup with victory over Manchester United on Sunday.
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Highlights of the Women’s League Cup Final between Chelsea and Manchester United
The change to the status quo in the league table presents an unexpected shake-up and one that is exciting for fans of the game, according to Kirby, who is preparing to face his old team as Brighton travel to Kingsmeadow to take on Chelsea, live on Sky on Wednesday night with kick-off at 7pm.
“It’s different this year that Chelsea aren’t top of the pile, but it’s always been pretty close. The last few years though, it’s come down to goal difference or the last game of the season. So as much as Chelsea have dominated for so many years, there’s always been that kind of title race.
“It might look comfortable for Manchester City at the moment but so many things can change. It takes a couple of games just for things to get a bit jittery. And you know if you lose a couple of games it’s going to be difficult.
“It’s really exciting for me to see that and obviously not be part of the title race. But we’re also here to maybe ruffle some feathers along the way.”
Injuries and inconsistency have affected Chelsea this season and a lack of firepower – they have scored 29 goals compared to Manchester City’s 47 so far this league campaign.
You could argue that they’ve missed Kirby’s ability to create that bit of magic from midfield, come up with crucial winners and turn games on their head. Indeed, Kirby remains Chelsea’s all-time leading goalscorer with 116 goals in 208 games.
Now she is preparing to inflict further setbacks on Chelsea’s ambition to make a late charge for the title.
“When I left Chelsea, I said to the girls, even if I’m playing against you, I want to win because you know who I am and you know what I’m about.
“I’m excited to play against them. Excited to play against the girls that I know and also to play in front of the fans that I’ve played in front of for so many years and have always shown me so much love. It’s all love until the whistle blows.”
Passion to the end. And when it comes to Fran Kirby, you wouldn’t expect it any other way.
Brighton travel to Chelsea in the Women’s Super League on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports, kick-off at