Two former Reading FC players starred as the women of England made history by winning Euro 2022.

The Lionesses made English football history when they were crowned European champions in front of a record crowd of over 87,000 at Wembley Stadium.

Reading-born Fran Kirby, who attended Maiden Erlegh school, scored England’s fourth goal in the Lionesses’ 4-0 semi-final win over Sweden.

Kirby started every game in the tournament, including the final, before being called off in the second half.

Goaltender Mary Earps, who had a sensational tournament and conceded just two goals in the entire competition, spent two years with the Royals.

Earps played 34 league games for Reading from 2016 to 2018 before joining German giants Wolfsburg.

She is now the number one goalkeeper for England and Manchester United.

Kirby, who was born in Reading, came through the youth ranks with the Royals.

She joined the club aged seven and made her senior debut for Reading aged 16.

Kirby, who also attended local school Maiden Erlegh, broke into the Reading first team and scored a remarkable 68 goals in 42 league appearances for the Royals.

She moved to Chelsea in 2015 and scored 54 Women’s Super League goals in 85 games for the Blues.

Kirby has won a plethora of honors during her career, including two PFA Player of the Year awards, four WSL titles and three FA Cups.