Fran Kirby backed by former team-mates to make FA Cup final impact for Brighton & Hove Albion against Manchester City - 'She lives for these moments'

The former Chelsea and England striker joined the ambitious Seagulls in 2024 and has played an integral part in the club reaching a cup final for the first time in their history.

Brighton will go into Sunday's Wembley showdown as underdogs against newly-crowned WSL champions City, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

However, with wins over Arsenal in the quarter-finals and a dramatic fightback from 2-0 down to win their semi-final against Liverpool, they will be hoping to cap off their fairytale run on the biggest stage.

And with legend Kirby in their ranks, their chances of achieving this feat are greatly improved, according to former Chelsea and England team-mate Anita Asante.

”I've been fortunate enough to play with Fran during our days at Chelsea,” she told TNT Sports. ”And honestly, she's one of the toughest players to play against because of her football intelligence, the way she finds space, the way she likes to create, her agility and her dribbling ability.”

During the cup run, Kirby was on target in the round of 16 win over West Ham United, provided both assists in the quarter-final win over Arsenal and was key during the victory over Liverpool to book Brighton’s Wembley place, despite her own protestations.

Asante backed Kirby to continue this form, and believes that her experience will help her play a ‘key’ role on the day.

”You've seen already the impact she's having in this Brighton side,” Asante continued. ”She lives for these moments on the big stage, in cup finals. She's been there time and time again.

”She knows what it takes to get it done so she'll definitely be one of the key players on the day.”

Kirby began her career with Reading, scoring 71 goals across all competitions in three seasons, helping the club to promotion to WSL 2.

Earning the nickname 'Mini Messi', her goalscoring exploits were spotted by Cheslea, who snapped her up in 2015. She would remain there for nearly a decade, helping the club to six WSL titles and five FA Cups.

Kirby was also The Blues’ record WSL scorer with 63 goals until being surpassed by Sam Kerr this season.

She also scored 19 times in 77 appearances for England before her retirement in 2025, where she played alongside now TNT Sports expert Fara Williams.

Williams thinks Kirby’s history of success will see her help manage her team-mates’ feelings and emotions going into one of the biggest matches of their respective careers, as they look to make history.

”I think she can have a say both on and off the pitch,” Williams said. ”In terms of her calmness, her experience of being at many of FA Cup finals and playing at Wembley, not just for Chelsea in FA Cup finals but for England as an England international - I think that experience she certainly can help some of her team-mates with because Brighton have never been to an FA Cup final.

”So the whole occasion I think she’ll be really important to her team-mates in trying to settle them, in trying to keep the excitement at a certain level, but that will be difficult.

”I remember my first FA Cup final - I thought I wasn't going to get as excited as I did and burn a lot of energy and, I think, 55 minutes, I had cramps.

”So I'm sure for some of these Brighton players, the same will happen for them, that nervous energy will build up, they might tire a little earlier.

”But I think all the good play of Brighton goes through Fran Kirby, so when we think about the in-game stuff and on the pitch, the more influence Fran can have on the game, the more successful I believe they can be within that game.”

You can watch the Adobe Women's FA Cup final on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

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