Listen to Fran Kirby on latest episode of Official BHAFC Podcast

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England international discusses Chelsea, England and Albion with Glenn Murray and Paul Hayward.

Charlie Hanson

2024-09-17T06:00+01:00

Fran Kirby joined Albion after departing Chelsea. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Fran Kirby has said she wants to help change the perception of Albion in the WSL.

The England international was talking on the latest episode of the Official Brighton & Hove Albion Podcast, as she discussed her incredible career and her hopes after signing for the club.

To listen to the interview, please click here.

“The club's ambition is to break into the top four – that's what the club has said and what they want to achieve,” the 31-year-old said. “I've been part of a team that's been playing for that and it's really hard to get up to that level.

“For me, success would be to help this club do better than last season. I also want to help find the identity in the Brighton's women's team – a style of play, a way of playing. What do people think when they come and play Brighton? Are they thinking, ‘this is going to be easy’ or ‘we're in for a tough game here’.

Albion have hugely experienced players Fran Kirby and Vicky Losada in their squad this season. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

“It’s about changing that perception of Brighton from being this team in seventh or eighth to one pushing to get up the table.”

The former Reading and Chelsea midfielder has a vision in mind for how she sees the team developing.

“I've signed a three-year contract here. The first year is building the foundations, building the basics, getting what we need and then kicking on.

“I'd love to sit here and say to you this year, we're going to come top four. That's what I want. I'm a competitor, but it takes time. It takes steps. We have a new manager and a lot of new faces.

“We’ve got to give it time to gel and get used to it. Then we can really kick on from there. Success for me would be to help take the club to a better place than it was last season on and off the pitch.”