Fran Kitching

Fran Kitching

in 2022 playing for Crystal Palace
Personal information
Full name	Frances Emily Kitching [1]
Date of birth	(1998-02-17) 17 February 1998 (age 27) [2]
Place of birth	Maltby, Rotherham, England [3]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Youth career
2008–2015	Sheffield United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2017	Chelsea	1	(0)
2017–2018	→ Watford (loan)	17	(0)
2018	Sheffield United	0	(0)
2018–2020	Liverpool	10	(0)
2020–2022	Sheffield United	40	(0)
2022–2024	Crystal Palace	21	(0)
International career
2017	England U20
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Frances Emily Kitching (born 17 February 1998) is an English former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. She last played for FA Women's Championship club Crystal Palace, and previously played for Sheffield United, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Watford.

Career

Kitching joined the academy at Sheffield United at the age of 10, with her family being lifelong fans of the club. ^{[4] [5]} After graduating from the Sheffield United Regional Talent Club, she joined Chelsea in 2015, becoming the club's third-choice goalkeeper. ^[6] In 2016, she made her competitive debut against London Bees in the FA Women's Continental League Cup. ^{[7] [8]} Kitching made her debut in the WSL on the 30 April 2017 in which Chelsea beat Yeovil Town 6–0. ^[9]

For the 2017/18 season, Kitching joined Watford on loan. ^[8] She made her competitive debut for the club in a 3–1 loss to Oxford United on the 2 October. ^[10] In June 2018, Kitching returned to Sheffield United, however in August 2018, she joined Liverpool. ^{[4] [11]}

Kitching returned again to Sheffield United for the 2020–21 FA Women's Championship season. ^[12]

In October 2024, it was reported that Kitching had retired following the expiration of her Crystal Palace contract at the end of the 2023-24 season and joined the Professional Footballers' Association, supporting the Women's Football and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion teams. ^[13]

Honours

Individual

• Crystal Palace Women’s Player of the Season: 2022–23 ^[14]

References

1. "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/08/2018 and 31/08/2018" (PDF). The FA. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
2. "Frances Kitching". Chelsea.fawsl.com. Retrieved 21 September 2018.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
3. Shield, James (19 June 2018). "Sheffield United Ladies: Carla Ward makes her first summer signing as international goalkeeper returns to Bramall Lane". thestar.co.uk. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
4. "Women net Chelsea stopper" . Retrieved 21 August 2018.
5. "Sheffield United Ladies add Fran Kitching from Chelsea". Forge Sport. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
6. "Sheffield United Women capture goalkeeper Fran Kitching – She Kicks Women's Football Magazine". She Kicks Women's Football Magazine. 19 June 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
7. Lawson, Sophie (4 July 2016). "London Bees (4) 3–3 (2) Chelsea: Cupset in Barnet as Blues bow out to Bees". VAVEL.com. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
8. "Watford Ladies Take Keeper Kitching On Loan – She Kicks Women's Football Magazine". She Kicks Women's Football Magazine. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
9. "Chelsea Ladies v Yeovil Town Ladies". BBC Sport. 30 April 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
10. "Ladies | Watford 1–3 Oxford United". Watfordfc.com. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
11. "LFC Women complete signing of goalkeeper Fran Kitching". Liverpoolfc.com. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
12. "Former Liverpool ace Opts for new Challenge with Sheffield United". Her Football Hub. 23 August 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
13. Sanders, Emma (4 October 2024). "Former goalkeeper Fran Kitching joins the PFA in a new dual role". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
14. "Fran Kitching wins Women's Player of the Season 22/23". Crystal Palace F.C. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.

External links

• Fran Kitching at Soccerway