When you visit Reading, England, and ask about the town’s football hero, Fran Kirby is a name that quickly comes to mind. Known as one of the city’s most celebrated athletes, her journey to football greatness started at a young age.
As a child, Fran’s mother, Denise Kirby, took her to the doctor due to her hyperactive nature, especially when it came to sports. During the visit, the doctor casually kicked a tennis ball to observe her reaction. Instead of simply catching it, little Fran, who had just turned three, caught the ball with her feet and kicked it back—showcasing her natural talent. It was in that moment her destiny as a footballer became clear, and her mother began laying the groundwork for her future career.
From Kicking a Tennis Ball at Three to Football Greatness: Fran Kirby’s Story
This is the story of Fran Kirby, a girl whose third birthday wish was a football, and who, with her mother’s support, pursued her dream of becoming a professional player. However, Fran’s path wasn’t without struggle. One of the most difficult times in her life came at age 14 when she tragically lost her mother. The grief forced Fran to step away from football for a time as she sought emotional healing.
In this biography, we dive deeper into the inspiring journey of Fran Kirby—her triumphs, her trials, and how she rose from personal hardship to become one of the most remarkable female footballers of her generation.
Fran’s Heartbreak: Overcoming Tragedy and Finding Strength.
Preamble:
We invite you to explore the life story of Fran Kirby, starting from her childhood and early passion for football. Along the way, you’ll learn about her family, including her father, Steve Kirby, and her late mother, Denise Kirby. We’ll also introduce you to her family background, her siblings—particularly her brother, Jamie Kirby—and other relatives such as her grandparents, uncle, and aunt.
Our aim is to spark your interest as you delve into this biography of Fran Kirby. To kick things off, we’ve put together a gallery that visually captures her remarkable rise to fame. Fran has certainly come a long way on her inspiring journey through life.
The Evolution of Fran Kirby: A Visual Story from Childhood Dreams to Football Stardom
Fran Kirby Childhood Story:
For Biography starters, Fran Kirby bears the nickname – Fran. And her Full Name is Francesca Kirby.
Fran Kirby was born on the 29th day of June 1993 to her Mother, Denise Kirby, and Father, Steve Kirby, in Reading, England.
The attacking midfielder arrived as one of two children, a boy and a girl, born to her parents. All of the children were born to the marriage of their father, Steve, and late mother, Denise.
Now let’s introduce you to the athlete’s mother, who has been her number one fan since birth. Denise always believed that her daughter, Francesca was the best player in the world before her demise.
Also, she was fond of staying on the sideline, supporting her and boasting about her skills to the other parents.
Meet Fran Kirby’s Mother, Denise Kirby, her number one fan and backbone.
Growing-Up Years:
Fran Kirby grew up in Reading, England. And in her family was her older brother, Jamie Kirby and no sister.
The two siblings were raised in a large town in southern England. Here is the childhood photo of Fran and her brother, Jamie.
Behold Fran Kirby and Jamie in their Childhood years.
This athlete grew up with her brothers’ and parents’ love and attention. You could say that she was a charming young girl with an undeniable passion for football. When Fran was young, her parents, especially her mother, were close to her.
According to Kirby, her mother was her mirror before her demise. She was the only person who knew her and believed in her more than anyone else.
To date, the English footballer always pours accolades on her mother and has vowed to make her proud.
Fran Kirby’s Early Life:
The Midfielder’s first encounter with football came when she was still young. Back then, her interest grew after watching her brother play. Fran Kirby recalled the story that her late mother used to tell her.
According to Fran;
My mother used to recount how she took me to the doctor for a few tests.
To observe how I would respond, the doctor kicked a tennis ball. While I was expected to catch it, I kicked it back to him.
Then I had just turned three. Okay, I guess she wants to be a football player, my mother said.
Meet Fran Kirby in her early career. You could see the rising star on the field, ready to play with her Jersey number 10.
As a young child, Kirby started playing football after seeing her brother play. At school, on the street, and in the front garden, she would play whenever she had the chance.
Fran’s mother, Denise, predicted in a birthday letter when Fran was a young child that she would play in a World Cup someday.
Fran Kirby Family Background:
Research shows that Denise and Steve Kirby (Fran’s Parents) were hardworking parents.
Fran Kirby’s father was a train driver, and her late mother worked as a nurse in psychiatric wards at Broadmoor Hospital. It is safe to say that the female athlete is from a comfortable middle-class family.
Fran Kirby’s parents did well in caring for their family because they only had two kids.
Their household was kept in good health, and they could meet their basic needs without endangering their children’s football careers. The two children (Jamie and Fran) were raised in a close-knit family.
Behold the family of Fran Kirby. The athlete, father, and brother are on the left, while the baller, her mum, and brother are on the right.
The athlete’s father was always busy because of the nature of his job as a train driver. As for Fran Kirby’s mum, she is always available to put her up on her toes.
As we always say, her mother (the late Denise) was her backbone. She always encouraged her by telling her she was going to become the best player in the world someday.
Fran Kirby Family Origin:
Where does the Chelsea midfielder come from? The report shows that both of her parents hail from England. Put simply, the athlete’s nationality is English. Also, the soccer player was born in Reading, England, as the map below clearly shows.
Here is the Family Origin of the Chelsea Forward.
Reading habited cities in Southern England along the Thames and Kennet rivers. The town is famous for the yearly Reading Festival, a concert featuring outdoor rock music.
Also, the town centre is filled with shops and eateries along the river.
Fran Kirby Ethnicity:
Based on research, the attacking Midfielder belongs to the Anglo-Gaelic ethnic group.
This ethnic group is a unique group of people descended from the intermixing of two distinct cultures. The Anglo-Saxon culture and the Gaelic culture.
Fran Kirby Education:
According to our sources, when it was time for Fran to start schooling, Steve and Denise ensured she went to school. The striker attended Caversham Park Primary School. Interestingly, Kirby was an intelligent and hardworking champ while at school.
In addition, she went to Chiltern Edge, Sonning Common, secondary school. While in high school, she played against boys.
Back then, Fran enjoyed schooling and playing football at the same time. It was difficult for her, but she had a supportive parent.
In addition, she continued her education at Buckinghamshire New University. Just like the star she is, Fran always displays her talents. As a Bucks University student, she scored in the GB Women’s football team’s quarter-final at the World University Games.
Fran Kirby (second person from the right) and her co-students at the University of Bucks. They represented the school in the World University Games.
Career Buildup:
The playmaker started kicking a ball around her neighbourhood when she was young. According to the Soccer star, her interest in the game grew after watching her brother play. From that moment, Kirby played at any opportunity at school, in the street, in the garden, etc.
Research shows Fran’s No. 1 fan and motivator was her Mum. Her father was so busy with work that he hardly had time for her training. Kirby recalled her mother always pulled her up from bed in the morning. After school, she will prepare a bowl of pasta for her.
After lunch, her mum will drive her to the training ground. Sometimes when she doesn’t want to go due to rain or laziness, her mum will force her into the car and insist she must go.
Also, her mum made her football career become a top priority. As a child, she always wore the jersey No. 10.
Fran Kirby has always been an attacking midfielder. She wore jersey number 10 not just as a youngster but as a superstar.
Denise always followed her daughter to watch her play. And she believed Fran was the best player. Equally, she will brag about her daughter with the other parents, claiming her daughter is better than other players on the field.
Fran Kirby Biography – Football Story:
At seven, the athletic young lady joined the Readings soccer team. She was with the youth team from 2001 to 2010 while training alongside the boys’ league.
In Fran’s earlier career, she was a confident, bubbly girl who played with John Madejski Academy.
Furthermore, she was a little girl who always beat herself up anytime she made a mistake on the field. Knowing her daughter’s strengths and weaknesses, Denise (her mother) always takes Fran to the coach for sessions on how to improve. It served as a kind of self-activating pep talk.
When she was 14, Kirby went to one of these sessions with her mum. They were talking with the coach when her mum suddenly complained she was sick. Sadly some kind person put her on the table, and she passed out.
Denise was rushed to the hospital, and it was confirmed that she had been diagnosed with a brain haemorrhage.
Consequently, she died a day after being rushed to the hospital because of how badly the disease had spread. However, the news hit her and her family the hardest.
Road to Fame Story:
She made her debut for the first team at the age of sixteen. But she quit football the following year after an onset of depression brought about by her mother’s death.
Kirby returned to the club in 2012 after dealing with depression for many years.
That year she became the FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division’s top scorer with 32 goals in 21 appearances. Also, she was called up to play for England a year later.
Fran Kirby injury:
After going to transfer from Reading to the top division’s Chelsea, success began pouring in. Her club immediately won the league and the cup, and Fran seemed unstoppable. Suddenly, in 2016, she suffered a knee injury, which turned out to be bone oedema.
Finally, she went back to training after almost a year off. It was a relief to her and also overwhelming. Then, however, she moved to use her left foot to block a ball, and the landing was uncomfortable.
However, Fran felt a sensation which turned out to be a Grade 3 ligament tear in her ankle. According to the baller;
Mentally, that year was quite difficult. It wasn’t simple coming back, either. I was selected for the Euro 2017 squad just before I left.
And people started to doubt me because I hadn’t yet participated in the Spring Series.
She hasn’t even played yet, they said. She isn’t even adequate. How can you choose someone who is hurt?
When she returned to the pitch, Fran Kirby understood that she had to disprove these criticisms. Despite missing three of the eight games, she ended up scoring six goals to win the Spring Series’ top scorer award.
Fran Kirby Bio – Rise to Fame Story:
Kirby attended the 2015 FA Women’s Cup Final as a cup-tied spectator. She scored two goals as Chelsea defeated Sunderland 4-0 to win the first FA WSL championship for the team. Also, Fran scored her first UEFA Women’s Champions League goal.
The Attacking Midfielder was awarded the PFA Women’s Players’ Player of the Year. Also, she was named Women’s Footballer of the Year by Football Writers for the 2017–18 campaign.
Collections of Fran Kirby’s award.
Five years after joining Chelsea, Kirby scored her 69th and 70th goals on December 9, 2020. However, her goal passed Eniola Aluko as the club’s all-time leading scorer. Also, her manager, Emma Hayes, commended her and her fellow strikers Sam Kerr and Lauren James as among the fast-rising English female footballers in the world.
She subsequently took up the 2021 FWA Women’s Footballer of the Year honour. Kirby assisted her Chelsea squad in winning the trophy and clinching the domestic quadruple for the 2020–21 campaign. That was the first women’s club in England to accomplish the feat. Also, she, alongside Marie-Antoinette Katoto, was nominated for the 2021 Women’s Ballon d’Or.
International Career:
Kirby began her international journey with England’s under-23 team. In June 2014, she was called to the senior team for the World Cup qualifying matches against Belarus and Ukraine. Also, in August 2014, the attacker faced Sweden on her senior international debut.
In May 2015, Kirby was a part of Mark Sampson’s final England roster for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. She later contributed to England’s 2-1 triumph over Mexico with a goal. Despite being ruled out by injury from the quarter-finals, England finished in third place.
Sampson decided to keep Kirby in the squad for the UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 qualifying run alongside Beth Mead. On September 21, 2015, the player also scored twice in Estonia. Next, Kirby was a member of the England team that won the UEFA Women’s Cup in June 2022.
The England professional player always leads her team to victory.
Kirby was regarded as a “stand-out player” for Great Britain’s gold-medal-winning team at the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia. Later, she represented the United Kingdom at the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics. As they say, the rest of our biography is history.
Love Life:
Like most famous people, Fran Kirby tries to keep her personal and love life private. As of 2023, Fran Kirby is not dating or married to anyone. According to CelebsCouples, Fran Kirby reportedly had at least one previous relationship.
Fran Kirby, the talented football player, is openly proud of her identity as a lesbian, similar to Lea Schüller. She is comfortable discussing her relationships and is open about her experiences with dating.
As a Reading native, Fran takes great pride in being a role model within the LGBTQ community, embracing her identity both on and off the field.
Fran Kirby and Maren Mjelde:
The rising talent was once linked to Maren Mjelde, a teammate from Chelsea FC. Despite the fact that she is now single and maintains her dating life a secret.
It turned out that the rumours were accurate. There was a romantic relationship between Maren and Fran.
The English-Norwegian pair was once a couple, but they are no longer. Maren is a professional footballer from Norway who plays as a defender or midfielder for her club. In addition, she captains the Norwegian national team.
The two footballers were actively dating between 2018 and 2020. Before, they eventually called things off for unknown reasons.
It seems like they wanted to concentrate more on their careers. However, the former couple remains friendly and active on social media.
Personal Life:
Away from the wonders that the formal Reading Forward does on the pitch, many have asked…
WHO IS FRAN KIRBY?
As much as soccer has been her main hobby and interest, Mead enjoys video games and movies. Nonetheless, she joined great footballers like Neymar Jr, David Alaba, and Jordan Henderson, who have a cancer Zodiac sign. She is protective, emotional, creative and Tenacious.
Workouts are essential to a footballer’s training regimen. It helps them build and maintain their physical and mental skills to succeed on the pitch.
Fran engages in workouts to build strength, prevent injury, prevent injury, improve speed and Enhance overall fitness.
Fran Kirby Lifestyle:
Speaking of how the Baller lives her life, we refer to her as a complete antidote to expensive living.
Fran Kirby does not use her social media handles to showcase vacation destinations and expensive houses or deliver self-satisfied talks about her wealth.
The athlete enjoys taking mental vacations, like Harry Wilson. Her particular method of rejuvenation entails spending time alone on the water.
As I write this bio, Fran’s lifestyle focuses on appreciating nature’s beauty since it calms her down and gives her time to think.
Fran Kirby and her water experience.
Fran Kirby Car:
She is a lover of expensive cars. The England Baller and her sets of automobiles just seem to fit. Although not as addictive as Theo Hernandez and other popular ballers who love different kinds of luxurious cars. She had a Bentley Continental GTC V8 in her garage.
Collections of Fran Kirby’s car
Fran Kirby Family Life:
As we rightly say, Family is not just an important thing; it’s everything. In the case of Fran Kirby, it meant the whole world to her. In this section, we will talk about the family members, starting with her father. Without further ado, let’s get started.
Fran Kirby Father – Steve:
Her father, Steve Kirby, was the head of his family, both in words and actions. His sole responsibility was providing for his family, which was his topmost priority. He worked as a train driver and ran many shifts.
Steven was always busy and did not have much time to spend with his kids because he was always tired. However, after the death of his wife, her father, Steve, did his best to support his children. Also, he immediately assumed the role of mom and dad.
Behold the supportive and proud father of Fran, Steve Kirby.
The formal driver changed his working hours for his kids. Though they were not too close during her early career, he covered the years he missed in her and her brother’s lives. He attended all her games, especially the most important ones. According to Kirby, she loves her dad so much.
Fran Kirby’s Mother – Denise:
Based on research, Fran always says that her mother is her main inspiration. She attributes her accomplishments to her mother, Denise Kirby, who gave her the encouragement and mental toughness she needed to succeed.
Fran’s mum, Denise, played a considerable part in her early career before her demise. Her mother sacrificed so much that she worked as her daughter’s mother and driver. Moreover, she worked as a nurse in psychiatric wards.
Meet the late Mrs Denise Kirby, the mother of Fran Kirby.
In addition, she made Fran’s football her top priority. She was not just her number-one fan but her motivator.
During an interview, the athlete describes her mother as a loud, strong, and amazing person. She never fails to talk about how she misses her mother. In her words,
Every day, but particularly during times of success, I think of her because I want to share the joy with her. Also, my Mum still lives in my heart. I dedicate every goal I score to her and consider her when I’m having trouble. Then, I realized my mother would have wanted me to be the finest version of myself.
Fran Kirby Brother – Jamie:
The striker has only one elder brother who, by her words, is one of the reasons she had a career in football.
She supported her career, especially after the passing of their mother. Jamie Kirby became the second father to his sister Fran. He makes sure he is present in most of her important matches.
The athlete’s brother, Jamie Kirby.
About Fran Kirby’s Relatives:
After a thorough search, we were unable to locate any information about Fran Kirby’s relatives. However, we learn she comes from a decent, supportive family who has helped her. Noteworthy are her cousins, uncles, aunts, nieces and grandparents.
Untold Facts:
In the concluding section of Fran Kirby’s Biography, we’ll divulge more facts you might not know about the Chealse and England players. So, without further ado, let’s begin.
Fran Kirby FIFA:
Based on her football tactics, the gorgeous English player has demonstrated remarkable movement and attacking skills.
According to her SoFIFA rating, her abilities, strength, and mindset enable her to stand out as the greatest among her female competitors.
But, no matter how talented a player is, they may always get better. She now has a FIFA ranking of 86 overall.
According to her FIFA rating, her balance, composure, and shot power cause her to excel as the best among her team.
Fran Kirby Religion:
From our records, she grew up in Readings, a city with a rich religious history. Also, one of the dominant religions in town is Christianity.
Like most families in Readings, her parents raised Fran Kirby as a Christian. However, she does not give much attention to her Religion, probably because she is gay.
Fran Kirby Dog:
There are many reasons footballers own dogs. In the case of Kirby, owning a dog is a way for her to relax and unwind after a game or a training session.
Also, Playing with a dog or taking it for a walk is a way to switch off from the pressures of her career and relieve stress.
This photo depicts Fran Kirby’s love for dogs.
In addition, Fran Kirby uses her love for dogs as a platform to raise awareness of animal welfare. Also, she believes that having a dog can be a way to show her support for animal charities and encourage others to do the same.
Fran Kirby’s Illness:
Chelsea superstar Fran Kirby stepped away from football from 2019 through the 2020 season. In order to deal with the health issue that’s continuing to cause her fatigue. It was a cruel blow for her because she was dealing with Pericarditis.
The disease is an inflammation of the fibrous sac surrounding the heart. The sickness became serious on November 2019 when she collapsed. It happened at home when she was eating dinner with her friends and teammates, Beth England and Maren Mjelde.
According to England, they were eating when Fran suddenly felt awful. Her face’s colour simply vanished, and Fran’s eyes rolled back into her head. Also, she passed out for 10 seconds and then again for 15 seconds as a result of the agony in her chest, making her blood pressure rise.
After her diagnosis, there was a lot of speculation about whether she would return to the pitch. She even left social media at that time. However, as a fighter, she pulled through and recovered. Currently, she is doing marvellously well on the pitch and in her personal life.
EndNote:
Francesca Kirby was born on the 29th of June 1993 to her parents, Steve Kirby (father) and Denise Kirby (mother), in Reading, England. Moreso, she has an older brother, Jamie Kirby.
The soccer player grew up in Reading with her older brother. She holds England nationality and Anglo-Gaelic ethnicity. Kirby got into sports because her sibling was also an athlete and her innate talent. Even so, her mother was her motivator and number-one fan before her demise.
Fran, the attacking midfielder, started her journey when she was only four before progressing to enrol with Reading Academy and ending up at Chelsea FC. Also, she plays for her national team, England. The Lioness is among the squad that will represent England in the 2023 Women’s World Cup finals.
The top goal scorer has many honours for her years of service in soccer. Fran Kirby won the FA Women’s Super League Player of the Year in 2020–21 and PFA Women’s Players’ Player of the Year in 2017–18 and 2020–21.
In addition, she won the Freedom of the City of London (announced 1 August 2022), etc. She has achieved a lot as one of the female strikers in the world. Besides, her journey to the top has not been swift, but she has proven to be a lioness to conquer all huddles.
Appreciation Note:
Thank you for taking the time to read Fran Kirby’s biography. She is truly a Chelsea legend with a remarkable legacy of trophies that will always be remembered by Blues fans. We strive to maintain fairness and accuracy in our reporting on English soccer players, and this story is part of our broader collection of female footballer profiles. Alongside Fran Kirby’s story, you might also enjoy reading the biographies of other great athletes like Aitana Bonmati and Salma Paralluelo.
If you spot any errors in this article about Chelsea’s goal-scoring star, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. We’d also love to hear your opinion on Fran Kirby’s career and what you think of the article we’ve written about her.
