Fran Kirby: Football Wasn’t Enough

Pete is joined in the studio by Footballing legend and lioness Fran Kirby for a conversation about grief, mental health, and life inside a male-dominated sport.

From being the only girl playing football in the park to winning major trophies for England including the UEFA Women’s Euros in 2022, Fran’s journey is remarkable, but it hasn’t come without struggle. She shares how losing her mum changed everything, how depression took hold in her late teens, and why she had to step away from the game she loved.

Fran discusses masculinity, emotional resilience, and the pressures of elite sport, as well as the importance of family, support systems, and finding peace in being alone.

Fran goes beyond football, it’s about identity, healing, and what it really means to keep going when everything changes.

If you want to find mental health support where you live, or talk about your feelings, visit the Hub of Hope (www.hubofhope.co.uk), where you can find links to services across the UK.

We’d love you to join the conversation – follow @manmadepod on Instagram & TikTok.

Producer - Connor Gani
Senior Video Producer - Elena Cotton
Camera Operator - Gavin McRae
Social Media Producer - Demi Brockway
Production Assistant - Emily Spungin
Production Manager -Sarah Nicholls
Executive Producer - Finn Ryan
Head of Production - Cat Moran
Chief Creative Officer -  Lucie Cave