Liam Kitching

Liam James Kitching (born 1 October 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays for Championship club Barnsley, as a defender. He started his career at Leeds United, though did not make a first-team appearance, and also had loan spells at Harrogate Town before joining Forest Green Rovers in July 2019.

Liam Kitching
Personal information
Full name Liam James Kitching[1]
Date of birth (1999-10-01) 1 October 1999
Place of birth Harrogate, England
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Barnsley
Number 5
Youth career
0000–2018 Leeds United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2019 Leeds United 0 (0)
2018 → Harrogate Town (loan) 9 (3)
2018–2019 → Harrogate Town (loan) 34 (3)
2019–2021 Forest Green Rovers 44 (0)
2021– Barnsley 0 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:06, 5 January 2021 (UTC)

Early life

Kitching was born in Harrogate and attended Rossett School.[3]

Career

Leeds United

Kitching began his career at Leeds United and signed a two-year contact with the club in July 2017.[4] After featuring regularly for Leeds' under-23 side during the first half of the season, Kitching joined Harrogate Town on a one-month loan in January 2018.[5][6] His first appearance for Stockport came as a substitute in a 4–1 victory over Stockport County before making his first start for Harrogate on 10 February 2018 in a 3–1 victory over Leamington, in which he scored the first goal of his senior career.[2][7] On 16 February 2018, his loan was extended until the end of the season.[8] After making 9 league appearacnes for Harrogate, scoring three goals,[2] Harrogate were promoted to the National League after defeating Brackley Town 3–0 in the play-off final.[9] On 20 July 2018, Kitching signed a new contract with Leeds United before rejoining Harrogate on a six-month loan deal.[10] In January 2019, his loan was extended until the end of the season, after scoring three goals in 25 appearances during the first half of the season.[11] Across the 2018–19 season, Kitching appeared in 34 league games for Harrogate, scoring thrice.[2]

Forest Green Rovers

Kitching signed with Forest Green Rovers in July 2019 on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[12][13] He made his debut for Forest Green Rovers as a substitute in their 1–1 League Two draw away to Walsall,[14] before making his first start on 13 August 2020 in a penalties victory over Charlton Athletic following a 0–0 in the EFL Cup, in which Kitching conceded a missed penalty.[15] He appeared in 29 of Forest Green Rovers' 36 league matches across the truncated 2019–20 season.[2]

Barnsley

On 5 January 2021, Kitching signed for Championship club Barnsley on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £600,000.[16][17][18]

Style of play

Kitching can play as a centre-back or as a left-back.[19][13]

Career statistics
As of match played 5 December 2020[2][20]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Leeds United 2017–18 Championship 0000000000
2018–19 Championship 0000000000
Total 0000000000
Harrogate Town (loan) 2017–18 National League North 9300—1[lower-alpha 1]0103
Harrogate Town (loan) 2018–19 National League 34320—3[lower-alpha 1]1394
Forest Green Rovers 2019–20 League Two 29030202[lower-alpha 2]0360
2020–21 League Two 15010001[lower-alpha 2]0170
Total 440402030530
Barnsley 2020–21 Championship 0000000000
Career total 8766020711027
  1. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  2. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

References
  1. "CLUB LIST OF REGISTERED PLAYERS AS AT 19th MAY 2018" (PDF). The Football League. 19 May 2018. p. 21. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  2. Liam Kitching at Soccerway. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  3. "Liam Kitching reveals 'shock' and 'nerves' after Marcelo Bielsa casts eye over Leeds United loanee". Yorkshire Evening Post. 2 November 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  4. "12 pen new deals". www.leedsunited.com. Leeds United F.C. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  5. "Town loan Leeds defender Kitching". harrogatetownafc.com. Harrogate Town A.F.C. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  6. "Defender Kitching leaves Leeds on loan for Harrogate". nonleaguedaily.com. 21 January 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  7. "Leamington 1 Town 3". harrogatetownafc.com. Harrogate Town A.F.C. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  8. "Liam Kitching loan extended". www.leedsunited.com. Leeds United F.C. 16 February 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  9. "Leeds United loanee Liam Kitching wins promotion with Harrogate Town". Yorkshire Evening Post. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  10. "Kitching signs new deal with Leeds United before heading back out on loan". Yorkshire Evening Post. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  11. Butcher, Will (4 January 2019). "Leeds youngster Liam Kitching agrees loan extension at Harrogate". HITC. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  12. "Liam Kitching: Leeds United defender signs for Forest Green on three-year deal". BBC Sport. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  13. Iles, Robert (8 July 2019). "Forest Green complete signing of defender from Leeds United". Gloucestershire Echo. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  14. Loveridge, Ashley (11 August 2019). "Forest Green player ratings as Thomas shines and Winchester catches the eye in draw at Walsall". Stroud News & Journal. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  15. Vincent, Bobby (13 August 2019). "Forest Green Rovers knock Charlton Athletic out of Carabao Cup". Gloucestershire Echo. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  16. "Liam Kitching joins the Reds". www.barnsleyfc.co.uk. Barnsley F.C. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  17. Palmer, Jon (5 January 2021). "Forest Green defender completes move to Barnsley". GloucestershireLive. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  18. "Barnsley sign Forest Green's Kitching". BBC Sport. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  19. "Kitching's form tempts Leeds United chief Marcelo Bielsa in for a closer look". Harrogate Advertiser. 31 October 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  20. Liam Kitching at Soccerbase
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.