Tara Kirk: I’m a title winner and Alessia Russo is my inspiration – I want to make a difference too

With a league title wrapped up, Tara Mae Kirk is on cloud nine right now and she credits the Lionesses for helping her on-pitch success.

The 23-year-old is part of Peterborough’s unstoppable women’s team that won promotion from Tier 4 (Division One Midlands) thanks to an incredible unbeaten campaign.

Instagram @taramaekirk

The team got their promotion party started with a 5-0 victory at Kidderminster Harriers to secure their promotion and make it 18 wins in 20 games, with 78 goals scored and 12 conceded.

In the process, the 23-year-old, who joined Peterborough from Women’s Super League academy side Leicester City in 2022, has gained herself a considerable social media following, with more than 100,000 followers across TikTok, Instagram and X.

Videos of her goals went viral and attracted more than five million views on X and she has featured alongside Jack Grealish and Angry Ginge in football YouTube videos.

Speaking to talkSPORT previously, she said she was surprised by the attention

However, it is the Lionesses she credits as the true architects of the sport’s increased exposure.

Speaking to talkSPORT less than 24 hours after her title celebrations, she said: “Honestly, I think without them we wouldn’t be where we are today. I think it’s all off the back of the Euros 2022 win.

“Every single one of the Lionesses is to thank and where we are today is all from them. Also, they did it in style and they really showed the quality on the pitch, which I think gained respect from people who wouldn’t normally watch the women’s game.

“We’ve got a lot to thank them for and I think the women’s game is only going forward.”

The mirror effect

The Women’s EURO 2022 final drew a record of 17 million viewers, sparking a massive surge in WSL attendance, with averages now reaching 6,500 per game.

Since the tournament, broadcasting income has increased by 40 per cent and the prize fund has doubled, with the 2025 Women’s Euros prize fund increasing to £35million.

For Kirk, the movement is personified by one player: Arsenal’s Alessia Russo. It’ not just about her technical ability but her presence.

She said: “I think she’s absolutely amazing. I play in the same position as her and she’s one of the player’s I watch really closely when I watch the women’s games.

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“I think the way she speaks and inspires, not just young girls, but people like myself is incredible. She is just the perfect character in the Arsenal team and the Lionesses.”

Speaking to Shebahn Aherne on talkSPORT’s Kick Back show, she added: “I’ve been at quite a few events with Alessia and the way she speaks is so inspiring and I’m not shy to say that she inspires me. She’s a great advocate for the sport.”

This season, Russo has scored eight goals in the Women’s Champions League and nine in the league.

And despite not being a Lioness herself, she still sees the impact she is having on young girls.

“I see my name on the back of young girls and boys shirts. That’s the biggest thing that I can’t really get my head around, it keeps you motivated.

“There’s a lot of different women’s names on the back of their shirts and I think that’s probably what helps me want to carry on, change the game and promote it.

“You’ve got all these young girls and boys that want to follow in your footsteps, it allows anyone to believe they can play football if they want to.”

From heartbreak to last-minute heroics

Instagram @taramaekirk

This season was far from a smooth ride for Kirk personally, as it began with one of the biggest concerns for any footballer – a serious knee injury.

She continued: “There was a point where I knew I was going to be out for quite a few months from the severity of what my knee looked like, due to the bruising and the mobility of it.

“It was really hard to miss out on the first couple of games in the season, I returned at Christmas time but that felt like forever.”

However, football has a funny way of rewarding persistence. In a feisty fixture against their second place rivals, Boldmere St Michaels in late March, Kirk got her big moment in a 3-2 win.

“I scored the last-minute winner to help secure promotion and so for me, to get that winning goal was very special.

“Especially with the challenging season that I’ve had with injuries, it was nice to have a big moment because I missed out on quite a few months.”

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And when they sealed promotion as champions, the team enjoyed the moment. “We partied in style,” she said.

“We were out until the early hours of the morning, but rightly so, we deserved it. It’s been a long time coming, so we went hard.”

Closing the gap

As Peterborough prepare to step up into Tier 3, she remains vocal about the structural changes needed to keep the momentum of the Lionesses alive.

While she has praised her club for moving their stadium to a more accessible location, she remains realistic about the disparities in the game.

“The lower you go in the football pyramid, you find fewer teams that are backed by the men’s side, which is quite poor in my opinion.

“But as we keep climbing the ranks, the more recognition we should get.

“However, Tier 3 is actually well known for being a hard league so hopefully with the backing of the club and the new additions, we can continue that pathway upwards.”