Dave Kitson
| Date of birth | 21 January 1980 |
| Place of birth | Hitchin |
| Nationality | English |
| Weight | 81 kg |
| Height | 1.91 m |
| Position | Forward |
Kitson switched from playing on the left wing to a role as an out-and-out striker for Ryman League club Arlesey Town at the start of the 2000-01 campaign and proved a revelation, scoring almost a goal a game.
His form soon attracted the attention of Football League clubs and he joined Second Division Cambridge United in March.
He went on to make his debut against Stoke City and featured in a handful of games towards the end of the season, netting his first senior goal with a header at Swansea City in the final game.
Kitson, who is a lanky striker with a great eye for goal, joined Reading in December 2003 with a contract to June 2006 that was extended to June 2008 in February 2005.
His Royals contract was extended to June 2010 in March 2007.
Kitson joined Stoke City in July 2008 with a three-year contract.
He joined Sheffield United in August 2012 with a four-month contract that was extended to June 2013 in November 2012.
Kitson joined Oxford United in July 2013 with a two-year contract.
He announced his retirement in July 2014.
Club history
| Team | Joined | Left | Loan / Trialist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlesey Town | 01 Jul 2000 | 16 Mar 2001 | |
| Cambridge United | 16 Mar 2001 | 26 Dec 2003 | |
| Reading | 26 Dec 2003 | 18 Jul 2008 | |
| Stoke City | 18 Jul 2008 | 31 Aug 2010 | |
| Reading | 10 Mar 2009 | 31 May 2009 | L |
| Middlesbrough | 17 Nov 2009 | 17 Jan 2010 | L |
| Portsmouth | 31 Aug 2010 | 03 Aug 2012 | |
| Sheffield United | 31 Aug 2012 | 30 Jun 2013 | |
| Oxford United | 01 Jul 2013 | 22 Jul 2014 |
Club stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Goals | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-01 | Cambridge United | League Division 2 | 6 | 2 |
1 |
1
|
|
| 2001-02 | Cambridge United | FA Cup | 2 | ||||
| 2001-02 | Cambridge United | LDV Vans Trophy | 4 | 1 |
|||
| 2001-02 | Cambridge United | League Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2001-02 | Cambridge United | League Division 2 | 30 | 3 |
9 |
5
|
|
| 2002-03 | Cambridge United | FA Cup | 6 | 1 |
1
|
||
| 2002-03 | Cambridge United | LDV Vans Trophy | 3 | 1 |
3 |
||
| 2002-03 | Cambridge United | League Cup | 2 | 1 |
|||
| 2002-03 | Cambridge United | League Division 3 | 44 | 20 |
5
|
||
| 2003-04 | Cambridge United | FA Cup | 1 | 1 |
|||
| 2003-04 | Cambridge United | League Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2003-04 | Cambridge United | League Division 3 | 17 | 10 |
4
|
1
|
|
| 2003-04 | Reading | League Division 1 | 10 | 7 |
5 |
1
|
|
| 2004-05 | Reading | League Championship | 37 | 19 |
4
|
||
| 2004-05 | Reading | League Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2005-06 | Reading | FA Cup | 2 |
1
|
|||
| 2005-06 | Reading | League Championship | 27 | 7 |
18 |
5
|
|
| 2005-06 | Reading | League Cup | 3 | 4 |
2
|
||
| 2006-07 | Reading | FA Cup | 3 | 1 |
2 |
1
|
|
| 2006-07 | Reading | Premier League | 9 | 4 |
2 |
3
|
|
| 2007-08 | Reading | League Cup | 1 | 1 |
|||
| 2007-08 | Reading | Premier League | 28 | 6 |
10 |
2
|
1
|
| 2008-09 | Reading | League Championship | 9 | 1 |
2 |
||
| 2008-09 | Reading | League Championship Play-Offs | 2 |
1
|
|||
| 2008-09 | Stoke City | FA Cup | 1 |
||||
| 2008-09 | Stoke City | League Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2008-09 | Stoke City | Premier League | 10 | 6 |
2
|
||
| 2009-10 | Middlesbrough | League Championship | 6 | 3 |
1
|
||
| 2009-10 | Stoke City | FA Cup | 2 |
1 |
|||
| 2009-10 | Stoke City | League Cup | 2 | 1 |
|||
| 2009-10 | Stoke City | Premier League | 10 | 8 |
3 |
1
|
|
| 2010-11 | Portsmouth | FA Cup | 1 |
1
|
|||
| 2010-11 | Portsmouth | League Championship | 35 | 8 |
8
|
||
| 2010-11 | Portsmouth | League Cup | 1 |
1
|
|||
| 2011-12 | Portsmouth | FA Cup | 1 |
1
|
|||
| 2011-12 | Portsmouth | League Championship | 22 | 11 |
4 |
6
|
1
|
| 2011-12 | Portsmouth | League Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2012-13 | Sheffield United | FA Cup | 2 | 1 |
|||
| 2012-13 | Sheffield United | League One | 30 | 3 |
11 |
7
|
|
| 2012-13 | Sheffield United | League One Play-Offs | 1 | 1 |
1
|
||
| 2013-14 | Oxford United | FA Cup | 3 | 1 |
1
|
||
| 2013-14 | Oxford United | League Two | 27 | 5 |
4 |
8
|
1
|
Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
Club matches
| Date | Match | Result | Competition | Round | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Mar 2001 | Stoke City v Cambridge United | W | 2-3 | League Division 2 | |
| 07 Apr 2001 | Cambridge United v Reading | D | 1-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 13 Apr 2001 | Northampton Town v Cambridge United | W | 0-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 17 Apr 2001 | Cambridge United v Millwall | L | 1-5 | League Division 2 | |
| 25 Apr 2001 | Brentford v Cambridge United | D | 2-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 28 Apr 2001 | Cambridge United v Wigan Athletic | L | 1-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 01 May 2001 | Cambridge United v Colchester United | W | 2-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 05 May 2001 | Swansea City v Cambridge United | D | 1-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 11 Aug 2001 | Cambridge United v Brighton and Hove Albion | D | 0-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 18 Aug 2001 | Notts County v Cambridge United | L | 2-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 22 Aug 2001 | Cambridge United v West Bromwich Albion | L | 1-1 (3-4) | League Cup | 1st round |
| 25 Aug 2001 | Cambridge United v Stoke City | L | 0-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 27 Aug 2001 | Brentford v Cambridge United | L | 2-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 01 Sep 2001 | Cambridge United v AFC Bournemouth | D | 2-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 15 Sep 2001 | Cambridge United v Cardiff City | W | 2-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 18 Sep 2001 | Reading v Cambridge United | L | 1-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 22 Sep 2001 | Blackpool v Cambridge United | D | 1-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 25 Sep 2001 | Cambridge United v Wigan Athletic | D | 2-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 29 Sep 2001 | Cambridge United v Queens Park Rangers | W | 2-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 05 Oct 2001 | Port Vale v Cambridge United | L | 5-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 13 Oct 2001 | Cambridge United v Bury | W | 3-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 20 Oct 2001 | Colchester United v Cambridge United | L | 3-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 24 Oct 2001 | Swindon Town v Cambridge United | L | 2-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 27 Oct 2001 | Cambridge United v Northampton Town | D | 3-3 | League Division 2 | |
| 30 Oct 2001 | Cambridge United v Cheltenham Town | D | 1-1 | LDV Vans Trophy | 2nd round - southern section |
| 03 Nov 2001 | Chesterfield v Cambridge United | L | 2-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 10 Nov 2001 | Cambridge United v Oldham Athletic | D | 1-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 17 Nov 2001 | Cambridge United v Notts County | D | 1-1 | FA Cup | 1st round |
| 20 Nov 2001 | Cambridge United v Wrexham | L | 0-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 24 Nov 2001 | Tranmere Rovers v Cambridge United | L | 6-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 27 Nov 2001 | Notts County v Cambridge United | L | 2-0 | FA Cup | 1st round replay |
| 01 Dec 2001 | Huddersfield Town v Cambridge United | L | 2-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 04 Dec 2001 | Cambridge United v Brighton and Hove Albion | W | 2-1 | LDV Vans Trophy | Quarter-final - southern section |
| 15 Dec 2001 | Cambridge United v Bristol City | L | 0-3 | League Division 2 | |
| 05 Jan 2002 | Cambridge United v Barnet | W | 2-0 | LDV Vans Trophy | Semi-final - southern section |
| 02 Feb 2002 | Queens Park Rangers v Cambridge United | D | 0-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 06 Feb 2002 | Stoke City v Cambridge United | L | 5-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 23 Feb 2002 | Cardiff City v Cambridge United | L | 2-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 02 Mar 2002 | Cambridge United v Reading | D | 2-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 05 Mar 2002 | Wigan Athletic v Cambridge United | L | 4-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 19 Mar 2002 | AFC Bournemouth v Cambridge United | D | 2-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 24 Mar 2002 | Blackpool v Cambridge United | L | 4-1 | LDV Vans Trophy | Final |
| 30 Mar 2002 | Oldham Athletic v Cambridge United | D | 2-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 02 Apr 2002 | Cambridge United v Chesterfield | W | 4-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 06 Apr 2002 | Wrexham v Cambridge United | L | 5-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 09 Apr 2002 | Cambridge United v Swindon Town | L | 1-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 13 Apr 2002 | Cambridge United v Tranmere Rovers | W | 2-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 20 Apr 2002 | Northampton Town v Cambridge United | D | 2-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 10 Aug 2002 | Cambridge United v Darlington | L | 1-2 | League Division 3 | |
| 13 Aug 2002 | Bury v Cambridge United | W | 0-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 17 Aug 2002 | AFC Bournemouth v Cambridge United | D | 1-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 24 Aug 2002 | Cambridge United v Leyton Orient | W | 2-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 26 Aug 2002 | Southend United v Cambridge United | L | 2-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 31 Aug 2002 | Cambridge United v Rushden and Diamonds | W | 4-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 07 Sep 2002 | Cambridge United v Hull City | L | 1-2 | League Division 3 | |
| 10 Sep 2002 | Cambridge United v Reading | W | 3-1 | League Cup | 1st round |
| 14 Sep 2002 | Torquay United v Cambridge United | L | 3-2 | League Division 3 | |
| 21 Sep 2002 | Cambridge United v York City | W | 3-0 | League Division 3 | |
| 28 Sep 2002 | Boston United v Cambridge United | W | 1-3 | League Division 3 | |
| 01 Oct 2002 | Cambridge United v Sunderland | L | 0-7 | League Cup | 2nd round |
| 05 Oct 2002 | Cambridge United v Wrexham | D | 2-2 | League Division 3 | |
| 12 Oct 2002 | Scunthorpe United v Cambridge United | W | 1-2 | League Division 3 | |
| 19 Oct 2002 | Cambridge United v Oxford United | D | 1-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 22 Oct 2002 | Cambridge United v Rushden and Diamonds | W | 4-0 | LDV Vans Trophy | 1st round - southern section |
| 26 Oct 2002 | Kidderminster Harriers v Cambridge United | L | 2-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 29 Oct 2002 | Cambridge United v Carlisle United | W | 2-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 02 Nov 2002 | Cambridge United v Swansea City | W | 1-0 | League Division 3 | |
| 09 Nov 2002 | Shrewsbury Town v Cambridge United | L | 3-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 16 Nov 2002 | Scarborough v Cambridge United | D | 0-0 | FA Cup | 1st round |
| 23 Nov 2002 | Exeter City v Cambridge United | W | 1-2 | League Division 3 | |
| 26 Nov 2002 | Cambridge United v Scarborough | W | 2-1 | FA Cup | 1st round replay |
| 30 Nov 2002 | Cambridge United v Macclesfield Town | W | 3-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 07 Dec 2002 | Cambridge United v Northampton Town | D | 2-2 | FA Cup | 2nd round |
| 14 Dec 2002 | Lincoln City v Cambridge United | D | 2-2 | League Division 3 | |
| 17 Dec 2002 | Northampton Town v Cambridge United | W | 0-1 | FA Cup | 2nd round replay |
| 21 Dec 2002 | Cambridge United v Bristol Rovers | W | 3-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 26 Dec 2002 | Cambridge United v Southend United | D | 1-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 28 Dec 2002 | Hartlepool United v Cambridge United | L | 3-0 | League Division 3 | |
| 04 Jan 2003 | Cambridge United v Millwall | D | 1-1 | FA Cup | 3rd round |
| 14 Jan 2003 | Millwall v Cambridge United | L | 3-2 | FA Cup | 3rd round replay |
| 18 Jan 2003 | Rushden and Diamonds v Cambridge United | L | 4-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 21 Jan 2003 | Brentford v Cambridge United | W | 1-2 | LDV Vans Trophy | Semi-final - southern section |
| 25 Jan 2003 | Cambridge United v Hartlepool United | D | 0-0 | League Division 3 | |
| 28 Jan 2003 | Leyton Orient v Cambridge United | D | 1-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 04 Feb 2003 | Cambridge United v Bury | L | 1-2 | League Division 3 | |
| 08 Feb 2003 | Cambridge United v Shrewsbury Town | W | 5-0 | League Division 3 | |
| 15 Feb 2003 | Swansea City v Cambridge United | L | 2-0 | League Division 3 | |
| 18 Feb 2003 | Bristol City v Cambridge United | L | 4-2 | LDV Vans Trophy | Final - southern section (1st leg) |
| 25 Feb 2003 | Cambridge United v Bristol City | L | 0-3 | LDV Vans Trophy | Final - southern section (2nd leg) |
| 01 Mar 2003 | Cambridge United v Torquay United | L | 0-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 04 Mar 2003 | Cambridge United v Rochdale | D | 2-2 | League Division 3 | |
| 08 Mar 2003 | York City v Cambridge United | L | 3-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 11 Mar 2003 | Darlington v Cambridge United | W | 1-2 | League Division 3 | |
| 15 Mar 2003 | Cambridge United v Kidderminster Harriers | L | 0-2 | League Division 3 | |
| 18 Mar 2003 | Oxford United v Cambridge United | D | 1-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 22 Mar 2003 | Carlisle United v Cambridge United | W | 0-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 25 Mar 2003 | Cambridge United v AFC Bournemouth | W | 2-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 29 Mar 2003 | Cambridge United v Scunthorpe United | D | 1-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 05 Apr 2003 | Macclesfield Town v Cambridge United | D | 1-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 12 Apr 2003 | Cambridge United v Exeter City | W | 2-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 19 Apr 2003 | Bristol Rovers v Cambridge United | L | 3-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 22 Apr 2003 | Cambridge United v Lincoln City | D | 0-0 | League Division 3 | |
| 26 Apr 2003 | Wrexham v Cambridge United | L | 5-0 | League Division 3 | |
| 03 May 2003 | Cambridge United v Boston United | L | 1-2 | League Division 3 | |
| 09 Aug 2003 | Huddersfield Town v Cambridge United | D | 2-2 | League Division 3 | |
| 12 Aug 2003 | Cambridge United v Gillingham | L | 1-2 | League Cup | 1st round |
| 16 Aug 2003 | Cambridge United v Macclesfield Town | W | 3-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 23 Aug 2003 | Rochdale v Cambridge United | D | 2-2 | League Division 3 | |
| 25 Aug 2003 | Cambridge United v Hull City | L | 0-2 | League Division 3 | |
| 30 Aug 2003 | Carlisle United v Cambridge United | D | 0-0 | League Division 3 | |
| 05 Sep 2003 | Cambridge United v Lincoln City | D | 0-0 | League Division 3 | |
| 13 Sep 2003 | Cambridge United v Torquay United | D | 1-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 17 Sep 2003 | Boston United v Cambridge United | W | 1-2 | League Division 3 | |
| 20 Sep 2003 | Cheltenham Town v Cambridge United | W | 0-3 | League Division 3 | |
| 27 Sep 2003 | Cambridge United v Mansfield Town | L | 1-2 | League Division 3 | |
| 30 Sep 2003 | Cambridge United v Doncaster Rovers | D | 3-3 | League Division 3 | |
| 04 Oct 2003 | York City v Cambridge United | L | 2-0 | League Division 3 | |
| 21 Oct 2003 | Swansea City v Cambridge United | W | 0-2 | League Division 3 | |
| 25 Oct 2003 | Cambridge United v Yeovil Town | L | 1-4 | League Division 3 | |
| 01 Nov 2003 | Kidderminster Harriers v Cambridge United | D | 2-2 | League Division 3 | |
| 08 Nov 2003 | Lancaster City v Cambridge United | W | 1-2 | FA Cup | 1st round |
| 15 Nov 2003 | Cambridge United v Oxford United | D | 1-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 22 Nov 2003 | Scunthorpe United v Cambridge United | L | 4-0 | League Division 3 | |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.