Goalkeeper Fran Kitching has gone back to her roots by re-signing for girlhood club Sheffield United.
The Yorkshire-born shot-stopper enjoyed two separate senior spells with her local side before joining Women’s Super League heavyweights Chelsea and Liverpool.
Kitching’s most recent move will see her compete against the Reds in the Championship this season.
Her Football Hub spoke with the 22-year-old back in 2018 after she joined Liverpool from the Blades. Kitching highlighted how the move to Merseyside aided her growth in a full-time environment.
Now, she will be battling for the No.1 spot back in Sheffield, competing against fellow goalkeepers Becky Flaherty and Emily Batty.
“As long as I’m training to the best of my ability then the decision is in the manager’s hands and I’ve done all I can,” Kitching commented on challenging former teammate Anke Preuss at Liverpool.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe two formed a strong goalkeepers’ union during their time together. Preuss also left the club this summer following the expiration of her contract.
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Blades academy graduate Kitching became the club’s fifth signing of the summer window. She joins the likes of Ellie Wilson and Mel Johnson in the club’s bid for promotion this term.
“It’s really nice to be back. In some ways it feels like nothing has changed,” Kitching told sufc.co.uk.
Chatting back in 2018, the 22-year-old admitted she didn’t plan to become a goalkeeper. Initially playing up front, Kitching started her career in between the sticks after filling in for an absent ‘keeper during her youth days.
Since then, the Yorkshire lass hasn’t looked back. She will become part of this United side pushing for a spot in the WSL next season. The Blades finished second last campaign, just six points behind champions Aston Villa.
Embed from Getty ImagesKitching will undoubtedly bring fight and a healthy attitude towards gameplay.
“An early save gives me a lot of confidence,” she said in her 2018 interview. “That first touch in a game is always good for confidence.
“Conceding an early goal is always frustrating and gives the team a big job to do, but for me, I try to reset my mind and continue to play as though it’s still 0-0.
“You can’t let something like that play on your mind for the rest of the game.”
This interview was originally published on November 30, 2018, for LFC Transfer Room.
