Introduction
Mark Stephen Kitching (born 4 September 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a left back or left midfielder for Stockport County. He has played in the English Football League for York City and Rochdale.
Kitching started his career with Middlesbrough and had a loan spell with League Two club York City from 2015 to 2016. He joined Rochdale in 2017, initially on loan, before moving to Hartlepool United in 2018.
Career
Middlesbrough
Kitching was born in Guisborough, Cleveland. He progressed through the academy of Middlesbrough, the club he grew up supporting. His first involvement with the first team was as an unused substitute for a 1–0 home win over Derby County on 5 April 2014. Kitching signed a two-year professional contract with Middlesbrough in April 2014. He joined League Two club York City on a one-month youth loan on 26 November 2015, and made his debut two days later when starting in a 5–1 home defeat to Accrington Stanley. He lost his place in the team to Femi Ilesanmi, and returned to Middlesbrough in January 2016 without making any further appearances.
Rochdale
On 27 January 2017, Kitching joined League One club Rochdale on loan until the end of the 2016–17 season. He made his debut a day later as a 12th-minute substitute in a 4–0 home defeat by Huddersfield Town. He signed for Rochdale permanently on a one-and-a-half-year contract on 31 January 2017. He was released by Rochdale at the end of the 2017–18 season.
Hartlepool United
Kitching signed for National League club Hartlepool United on 3 July 2018 on a contract of undisclosed length.
Stockport County
Kitching signed for Stockport County on 17 July 2020 after turning down a new contract at Hartlepool United.
Career statistics
- As of match played 14 March 2020
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Middlesbrough | 2013–14 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 2014–15 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2015–16 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| York City (loan) | 2015–16 | League Two | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Middlesbrough U23 | 2016–17 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Rochdale | 2016–17 | League One | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18 | League One | 13 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 23 | 2 | |
| Total | 18 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 29 | 2 | ||
| Hartlepool United | 2018–19 | National League | 40 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 45 | 2 | |
| 2019–20 | National League | 38 | 1 | 5 | 1 | — | 1 | 0 | 44 | 2 | ||
| Total | 78 | 3 | 8 | 1 | — | 3 | 0 | 89 | 4 | |||
| Career total | 97 | 5 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 121 | 6 | ||