Mark Kitching

Mark Stephen Kitching (born 4 September 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a left-back or left midfielder for National League club York City. He has played in the English Football League for York City, Rochdale and Stockport County.

Mark Kitching

Personal information
Full name	Mark Stephen Kitching[1]
Date of birth	(1995-09-04) 4 September 1995 (age 29)[2]
Place of birth	Guisborough, England
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[3]
Position(s)	Left back / Left midfielder[4]
Team information
Current team	York City
Number	3
Youth career
0000–2013	Middlesbrough
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2013–2017	Middlesbrough	0	(0)
2015–2016	→ York City (loan)	1	(0)
2017	→ Rochdale (loan)	0	(0)
2017–2018	Rochdale	18	(2)
2018–2020	Hartlepool United	78	(3)
2020–2022	Stockport County	49	(2)
2022–2025	Oldham Athletic	102	(5)
2025–	York City	0	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 24 June 2025

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.^[5] He progressed through the academy at Middlesbrough, the club he grew up supporting. His first involvement with the first team was as an unused substitute in a 1–0 home win over Derby County on 5 April 2014.^[5][6] Kitching signed a two-year professional contract with Middlesbrough in April 2014.^[7][8] He joined League Two club York City on a one-month youth loan on 26 November 2015,^[9] and made his debut two days later when starting in a 5–1 home defeat to Accrington Stanley.^[10] He lost his place in the team to Femi Ilesanmi,^[11] and returned to Middlesbrough in January 2016^[12] without making any further appearances.^[13]

Rochdale

On 27 January 2017, Kitching joined League One club Rochdale on loan until the end of the 2016–17 season.^[14] He made his debut a day later as a 12th-minute substitute in a 4–0 home defeat by Huddersfield Town.^[15] He signed for Rochdale permanently on a one-and-a-half-year contract on 31 January 2017.^[16] He was released by Rochdale at the end of the 2017–18 season.^[17]

Hartlepool United

Kitching signed for National League club Hartlepool United on 3 July 2018 on a contract of undisclosed length.^[18]

Stockport County

Kitching signed for Stockport County on 17 July 2020 after turning down a new contract at Hartlepool United.^[19] He spent two full seasons at the club, where he won the National League title last season. On 20 October 2022, Kitching departed Stockport having had his contract terminated by mutual consent.^[20]

Oldham Athletic

He joined National League club Oldham Athletic on 31 October 2022.^[21]

Career statistics

As of match played 13 April 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		EFL Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Middlesbrough	2013–14[22]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2014–15[23]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2015–16[13]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2016–17[15]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
York City (loan)	2015–16[13]	League Two	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	Total		1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Middlesbrough U23	2016–17[15]	N/A	0	0	0	0	0	0	2[a]	0	2	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	0
Rochdale	2016–17[15]	League One	5	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
	2017–18[24]	League One	13	2	6	0	1	0	3[a]	0	23	2
	Total		18	2	7	0	1	0	3	0	29	2
Hartlepool United	2018–19[25]	National League	40	2	3	0	0	0	2[b]	0	45	2
	2019–20[25]	National League	38	1	5	1	0	0	1[b]	0	44	2
	Total		78	3	8	1	0	0	3	0	89	4
Stockport County	2020–21[25]	National League	17	2	3	0	0	0	2[b]	0	22	2
	2021–22[25]	National League	26	0	4	0	0	0	4[b]	0	34	0
	2022–23[26]	League Two	6	0	0	0	1	0	2[a]	0	9	0
	Total		49	2	7	0	1	0	8	0	65	2
Oldham Athletic	2022–23[25]	National League	30	2	1	0	0	0	2[b]	0	33	2
	2023–24[25]	National League	43	0	2	0	0	0	2[b]	0	47	0
	Total		73	2	3	0	0	0	4	0	80	2
Career total			219	9	25	1	2	0	20	0	266	10

1. Appearances in EFL Trophy
2. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy

Honours

Stockport County

• National League: 2021–22^[27]

Oldham Athletic

• National League play-offs: 2025^[28]