Dave Kitson Bio Send To Friend  

The £5.5million fee paid for the ginger-haired striker was a new club record for the Potters.

Already something of a hero for the Royals he cemented his position by scoring the club's first ever goal in the Premier League during the 2006/07 season. His celebrations were tempered by a reckless tackle that kept him out of action until January 2007.

The following season Kitson became the highest scorer at Reading's Madejski Stadium when his strike in a 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough took his tally to 37 goals, taking the record from Nicky Forster.

Previously on the books at Cambridge United and Arlesey Town, Kitson was a prolific asset to Reading, scoring on a regular basis.

With all the attributes of a quality striker: strength, pace and an ability to find the net from just about anywhere around the box, Kitson was lucky to get his break at Cambridge after being discarded by his local club Hitchin Town.

His sale to Reading on 26 December 2003 for £150,000 was the cause of some controversy at Cambridge as fans believed he was worth much more than the fee the club had received.

Kitson appeared to have been a bargain for the Royals, going on to score 5 goals in just 10 starts in his first season.

In the 2004/05 season, despite injury he went on to record an impressive goals to games ratio, and continued to do so as Reading marched to the Championship title and promotion to the Premiership during the 2005/06 season.

Off the field, Kitson's positive media image has led to him doing a number of 'Football in the Community' activities.

But he failed to make an impression at Stoke and rejoined Reading on loan in March 2009 having not scored a single goal.