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.
_(cropped).jpg) in 2022 playing for Crystal Palace | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Frances Emily Kitching[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 17 February 1998[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Maltby, Rotherham, England[3] | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2008 | Manchester United | ||
| 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 | |||
Career
editKitching joined the academy at Sheffield United at the age of 10, with her family being lifelong fans of the club.[4][5][6] After graduating from the Sheffield United Regional Talent Club, she joined Chelsea in 2015, becoming the club's third-choice goalkeeper.[7] In 2016, she made her competitive debut against London Bees in the FA Women's Continental League Cup.[8][9] Kitching made her debut in the WSL on the 30 April 2017 in which Chelsea beat Yeovil Town 6–0.[10]
For the 2017/18 season, Kitching joined Watford on loan.[9] She made her competitive debut for the club in a 3–1 loss to Oxford United on the 2 October.[11] In June 2018, Kitching returned to Sheffield United, however in August 2018, she joined Liverpool.[4][12]
Kitching returned again to Sheffield United for the 2020–21 FA Women's Championship season.[13]
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.[14]
Honours
editIndividual
- Crystal Palace Women’s Player of the Season: 2022–23[15]
References
edit- ↑ "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/08/2018 and 31/08/2018" (PDF). The FA. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
- ↑ "Frances Kitching". Chelsea.fawsl.com. Retrieved 21 September 2018.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ 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.
- 1 2 "Women net Chelsea stopper". Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ↑ "Sheffield United Ladies add Fran Kitching from Chelsea". Forge Sport. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ↑ "The England and Manchester City star Izzy Christiansen, the 18-year-old City forward Ella Toone, Liverpool's Ellie Fletcher and Emily Ramsey, Juventus's Katie Zelem and the Chelsea keeper Fran Kitching all began their careers at United – the list could go on". 23 March 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ 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.
- 1 2 "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.
- ↑ "Chelsea Ladies v Yeovil Town Ladies". BBC Sport. 30 April 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ↑ "Ladies | Watford 1–3 Oxford United". Watfordfc.com. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ↑ "LFC Women complete signing of goalkeeper Fran Kitching". Liverpoolfc.com. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ↑ "Former Liverpool ace Opts for new Challenge with Sheffield United". Her Football Hub. 23 August 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
- ↑ Sanders, Emma (4 October 2024). "Former goalkeeper Fran Kitching joins the PFA in a new dual role". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
- ↑ "Fran Kitching wins Women's Player of the Season 22/23". Crystal Palace F.C. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
External links
edit- Fran Kitching at Soccerway