| Mitch Harding | |
| Fullname: | Mitch Peter Harding[1] |
| Birth Date: | 27 January 1994 |
| Birth Place: | Weston-super-Mare, England |
| Position: | Forward |
| Youthyears1: | 2010–2012 |
| Years1: | 2012–2014 |
| Clubs1: | Bristol Rovers |
| Caps1: | 17 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2012 |
| Clubs2: | → Gloucester City (loan) |
| Caps2: | 5 |
| Goals2: | 1 |
| Club-Update: | 13:05, 7 May 2014 (UTC) |
Mitch Peter Harding (born 27 January 1994) is an English former professional footballer who played as a forward for Bristol Rovers and Gloucester City during his short career.
Harding was born in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. Mitch was selected to play for North Somerset Football Development and developed very quickly in his early years leading North Somerset to forward him to Bristol Rovers as an under-13 and was signed. He progressed through the youth team of Bristol Rovers and signed a two-year scholarship terms in the summer of 2010. He signed his first professional contract in May 2012, after being voted youth team player of the year.[2] He made his first team debut on 5 May 2012, in a 4–0 defeat to Dagenham & Redbridge, coming on as a second-half substitute for Eliot Richards.[3]
Harding, along with teammate Jordan Goddard, joined Gloucester City on an initial month's loan in October 2012.[4] and went on to score less than a minute into his debut, a 5–1 victory over Bishop's Stortford.[5] Harding's loan was extended for a second month[6] but returned early.[7] He went on to feature five times for Bristol Rovers, all as a substitute, in the remainder of the season.
Harding made his starting 11 debut for Bristol Rovers on the first day of the following season in a 2–1 defeat away to Exeter City. He went on to feature in a further 12 league and cup fixtures, four of them as part of the starting lineup. Harding, along with 11 other players, was released at the end of the season.[8]