Mark Stephen Kitching (born 4 September 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a left-back or left midfielder for EFL League Two club York City. He has played in the English Football League for York City, Oldham Athletic, Rochdale and Stockport County.
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 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. 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. He spent two full seasons at the club, where he won the National League title the previous season. On 20 October 2022, Kitching departed Stockport having had his contract terminated by mutual consent.
Oldham Athletic Kitching joined National League club Oldham Athletic on 31 October 2022. In June 2025, Kitching won the National League playoffs with the club to get promoted to League Two. On 24 June 2025 it was announced Kitching would depart the club upon the expiry of his contract.
York City
On 24 June 2025, Kitching signed for National League club York City.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsMiddlesbrough2013–14Championship00000000002014–15Championship00000000002015–16Championship00000000002016–17Premier League0000000000Total0000000000York City (loan)2015–16League Two1000000010Middlesbrough U232016–17N/A0000002020Rochdale2016–17League One50100000602017–18League One132601030232Total182701030292Hartlepool United2018–19National League4023000204522019–20National League381510010442Total783810030894Stockport County2020–21National League1723000202222021–22National League2604000403402022–23League Two6000102090Total492701080652Oldham Athletic2022–23National League3021000203322023–24National League4302000204702024–25National League403300041474Total11356000811276York City2025–26National League442210010473Career total303143022025136017
Honours Stockport County National League: 2021–22
Oldham Athletic National League play-offs: 2025
York City National League: 2025–26
References
External links
Profile at the Hartlepool United F.C. website