It is the glint in her eye and her wide infectious smile that tells you the hunger for the game still burns brightly 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 lust for football as those early days when she first started out at Reading.
Last June, Kirby announced her international retirement a month before the start of England’s defence of their European Championship, having three years previously played a pivotal role for the Lionesses on their way to an historic triumph on home soil.
But closing in on two seasons this spring at Brighton following her switch from Chelsea, where she won an abundance of trophies and personal accolades, it is evident the 32-year-old doesn’t view life on the south coast as a nice time by the seaside, or an opportunity to wind down.
“When you come into a new team, you’re trying to find your feet a little bit, but I didn’t really feel that I had to,” Kirby tells Sky Sports at Brighton’s impressive Elite Football Performance Centre as she reflects on those early days after joining.
“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 place.
This campaign Kirby admits the team have struggled for consistently and defeats to teams around them, most recently against West Ham, where they collapsed from 2-0 up 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.
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Kirby says she is still learning as a player by working with “incredible” coach Dario Vidosic, who is currently on an absence of leave due to personal reasons and even though she admits in “the latter stages of my career”.
Her bank of experience and success – she won 77 England caps, seven WSL titles, five Women’s FA Cups, two Women’s League Cups during her Chelsea years, as well as personal prizes of PFA Women’s Players’ Player of the Year twice (2018, 2021), the FWA Women’s Footballer of the Year twice and shortlisted for the 2021 Ballon d’Or – means she is demanding of her team-mates.
She knows that her “tough love” approach is received well by her younger team-mates, with Brighton boasting one of the youngest squads in the WSL, led by captain Masie Symonds at just 23 years old.
“I came from a very demanding environment in terms of a team that wants to dominate, wants to always 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 just maybe starting off in their career 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 maybe think I’m being a bit harsh on them, but it’s because I know what they can do. I know what they’re capable of. I see them in training every day and you can see the way that we play football. I want to help them feel that confidence and be able to go on and achieve some amazing things.”
Kirby says for some of her team-mates it might have been an “eye-opener” but she only wants to instil that same level of drive and ambition that has been inbuilt in her.
“I think sometimes they get a bit sick of me, but overall they love me and they know what I want to help them achieve.”
‘Brighton can still ruffle some feathers in title race’
Clearly a self-motivated individual with plenty of self drive and ambition, Kirby’s passion for the game was matched and taken to new heights by working under Emma Hayes throughout her whole spell 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 off their heady perch this season, 10 points off leaders Manchester City who look primed to end Chelsea’s superiority. Although they did retain the Women’s League Cup with victory over Manchester United on Sunday.
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The change of 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 her 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 are not top of the pile, but it’s always been quite close. The last however many years has come down to goal difference or the final 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 little bit nervy. And, you know, if you lose a couple of games, it gets difficult.
“It’s really exciting for me to watch it and obviously not be a part of the title race. But we’re also here to maybe ruffle some feathers along the way.”
Injuries and inconsistency have impacted 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 have missed Kirby’s ability to create that bit of magic from midfield, popping up with crucial winners and turning games on its head. Kirby indeed remains Chelsea’s all-time leading goalscorer with 116 goals in 208 appearances.
Now she is preparing to inflict further setback on Chelsea’s ambition to make a late charge for the title.
“When I left Chelsea, I said to the girls, even if I play against you, I’m going to 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 play in front of the fans who I played in front of for so many years and always showed me so much love. It’s all love until the whistle blows.”
Passion until 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 7pm
