Liam Kitching
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Liam James Kitching[1] | ||
Date of birth | [2] | 25 September 1999||
Place of birth | Harrogate, England | ||
Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[3] | ||
Position(s) | Defender | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Coventry City | ||
Number | 15 | ||
Youth career | |||
–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) |
2021–2023 | Barnsley | 82 | (5) |
2023– | Coventry City | 35 | (1) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:09, 9 November 2024 (UTC) |
Liam James Kitching (born 25 September 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL Championship club Coventry City. 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 and Barnsley in 2021.
Early life
[edit]Kitching was born in Harrogate and attended Rossett School.[4] He is of Irish descent.[5]
Career
[edit]Leeds United
[edit]Kitching began his career at Leeds United and signed a two-year contract with the club in July 2017.[6] 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.[7][8] His first appearance for Harrogate 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.[3][9] On 16 February 2018, his loan was extended until the end of the season.[10] After making 9 league appearances for Harrogate, scoring three goals,[3] Harrogate were promoted to the National League after defeating Brackley Town 3–0 in the play-off final.[11] On 20 July 2018, Kitching signed a new contract with Leeds United before rejoining Harrogate on a six-month loan deal.[12] 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.[13] Across the 2018–19 season, Kitching appeared in 34 league games for Harrogate, scoring twice.[3]
Forest Green Rovers
[edit]Kitching signed with Forest Green Rovers in July 2019 on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[14][15] He made his debut for Forest Green Rovers as a substitute in their 1–1 League Two draw away to Walsall,[16] before making his first start on 13 August 2020 in a penalty shoot-out victory over Charlton Athletic following a 0–0 draw in the EFL Cup, in which Kitching conceded a missed penalty in normal time.[17] He appeared in 29 of Forest Green Rovers' 36 league matches across the truncated 2019–20 season.[3]
Barnsley
[edit]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.[18][19][20] He scored his first goal for the club on 13 September 2022 in a 1–1 draw against Port Vale.[21]
Coventry City
[edit]On 1 September 2023, Kitching transferred to Championship side Coventry City.[22] On 14 February 2024, he scored his first goal for Coventry, a stoppage-time equaliser in a 2–2 draw against Plymouth Argyle.[23] On 1 April, he scored two own goals in a 2–1 home loss to Cardiff City.[24]
Style of play
[edit]Kitching can play as a centre-back or as a left-back.[25][15]
Career statistics
[edit]Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Leeds United | 2017–18 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2018–19 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Harrogate Town (loan) | 2017–18 | National League North | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[a] | 0 | 10 | 3 | |
Harrogate Town (loan) | 2018–19 | National League | 34 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | 3[a] | 1 | 39 | 4 | |
Forest Green Rovers | 2019–20 | League Two | 29 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 36 | 0 |
2020–21 | League Two | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
Total | 44 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 53 | 0 | ||
Barnsley | 2020–21 | Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 2 | 0 |
2021–22 | Championship | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 0 | |
2022–23 | League One | 45 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4[d] | 1 | 53 | 5 | |
2023–24 | League One | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | |
Total | 82 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 93 | 6 | ||
Coventry City | 2023–24 | Championship | 28 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 1 |
2024–25 | Championship | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
Total | 35 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 1 | ||
Career total | 204 | 12 | 15 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 236 | 14 |
References
[edit]- ^ "CLUB LIST OF REGISTERED PLAYERS AS AT 19th MAY 2018" (PDF). The Football League. 19 May 2018. p. 21. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- ^ "Liam Kitching - Defender - First Team - Barnsley Football Club". www.barnsleyfc.co.uk.
- ^ a b c d e f Liam Kitching at Soccerway. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Gaine, Bill (10 January 2023). "A 'Granny Rule XI' We'd Love To See Playing For Ireland Some Day". Balls.ie.
- ^ "12 pen new deals". www.leedsunited.com. Leeds United F.C. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ^ "Town loan Leeds defender Kitching". harrogatetownafc.com. Harrogate Town A.F.C. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ^ "Defender Kitching leaves Leeds on loan for Harrogate". nonleaguedaily.com. 21 January 2018. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Leamington 1 Town 3". harrogatetownafc.com. Harrogate Town A.F.C. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ^ "Liam Kitching loan extended". www.leedsunited.com. Leeds United F.C. 16 February 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ^ "Leeds United loanee Liam Kitching wins promotion with Harrogate Town". Yorkshire Evening Post. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ^ "Kitching signs new deal with Leeds United before heading back out on loan". Yorkshire Evening Post. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ^ Butcher, Will (4 January 2019). "Leeds youngster Liam Kitching agrees loan extension at Harrogate". HITC. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ^ "Liam Kitching: Leeds United defender signs for Forest Green on three-year deal". BBC Sport. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
- ^ a b Iles, Robert (8 July 2019). "Forest Green complete signing of defender from Leeds United". Gloucestershire Echo. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Vincent, Bobby (13 August 2019). "Forest Green Rovers knock Charlton Athletic out of Carabao Cup". Gloucestershire Echo. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ^ "Liam Kitching joins the Reds". www.barnsleyfc.co.uk. Barnsley F.C. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ^ Palmer, Jon (5 January 2021). "Forest Green defender completes move to Barnsley". GloucestershireLive. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ^ "Barnsley sign Forest Green's Kitching". BBC Sport. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ^ "Barnsley 1–1 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
- ^ "Coventry sign Barnsley defender Kitching" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Plymouth Argyle 2–2 Coventry City". BBC Sport. 14 February 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ "Coventry City 1–2 Cardiff City". BBC Sport. 1 April 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ "Kitching's form tempts Leeds United chief Marcelo Bielsa in for a closer look". Harrogate Advertiser. 31 October 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ^ Liam Kitching at Soccerbase
- 1999 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Harrogate
- English men's footballers
- English people of Irish descent
- Leeds United F.C. players
- Harrogate Town A.F.C. players
- Forest Green Rovers F.C. players
- Barnsley F.C. players
- English Football League players
- National League (English football) players
- Men's association football defenders
- Coventry City F.C. players
- 21st-century English sportsmen