by Isla Smith (25/7/24)
Above: Fran Kirby unveiled as a Brighton and Hove Albion player. Photo: James Boardman/BHAFC.
Fran Kirby’s arrival at Brighton and Hove Albion is a major capture for the Sussex side and a statement of intent for a club who have also brought in Dario Vidosic, a hugely talented new head coach, to lead the former Chelsea star and her new teammates.
Brighton struggled to find the back of the net in ten of twenty-two league matches last season, finishing ninth in the league with just 26 goals scored. Though they improved their positioning in the table from the season prior, they still only won one more game, scoring the same amount of goals in comparison to the 2022/23 season. With that being said, the appointment of Fran Kirby brings both experience and ability.
In 2014, Kirby became the first WSL 2 (now Barclays Women’s Championship) player to receive a call-up for the senior Lionesses after scoring 24 goals in 16 appearances for Reading, following this she became the club’s first female player to receive a professional contract.
The following year, after an outstanding performance versus Mexico at the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada, Chelsea came calling for the second consecutive year and she made the move to West London. During her time at Chelsea, she scored 116 goals in 208 appearances, including one on her debut and the club’s first-ever goal in Europe, as well as winning thirteen trophies for the club.
In recent seasons, the attacking midfielder struggled for minutes at Chelsea following a few injuries and health problems as well as a variety of incoming players making the competition for her spot difficult.
In an interview upon her arrival at the South Coast club, Kirby stated that she was “here to win” and that she wanted to play for a club where she could help as well as feel valued. With the subsequent departure of Elisabeth Terland, a centre forward who scored 13 of the club’s 26 goals last season to Manchester United, the club will be looking elsewhere on the pitch for goal-scoring ability.
Although not a direct replacement for Terland, Kirby shares her attacking mindset, something that will prove crucial for the club’s growth over the upcoming seasons and can help improve the performance of players around her.
Brighton didn’t play a very structured style of football last season, with a very interchangeable midfield due to the lack of a consistent player in the number 10 role. Going forward, they will be looking for a more structured set-up to compete against top WSL sides, something Kirby knows all too well.
However, the arrival of Dario Vidosic as boss will add both detailed structure, a clear identity, and a game plan to make the most of possession – something that will be vital to take the club away from the lower reaches of the table.
The arrival of Kirby along with the potential playing style of Vidosic can provide a welcome boost to the club’s attendances. Last season, the Seagulls averaged an attendance of 3,881 fans per match, including two matches being played at the American Express Stadium (the AmEx), a 31,876-capacity venue. This was one of the lowest averages in the WSL.
Brighton and Hove Albion have stated that they have a plan to improve and develop their women’s team over the next few years and using new techniques to build their fan base will be a part of that. The marketability of Fran Kirby and the coaching prowess of Visodic are a great initial boost for those plans.
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