Fran Kirby joined Reading FC, her hometown football club, at the age 7 and worked her way through to the youth teams. In 2014, Fran won her first senior cap for England and represented her country at the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in 2015 and 2019. Fran now plays as a forward for Chelsea FC and as of December 2020, is their leading all-time scorer. Off the pitch, Kirby is also an inspiration to others.

In October 2019, Kirby received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science (D.Sc) from the University of Winchester for her achievements both on and off the field, in particular her work supporting mental health and wellbeing. She is widely regarded as one of the most talented footballers in the world.