Mitch Harding, who can play as both a centre forward or centre half, signed his first professional contract at the beginning of May 2012, shortly before making his debut for the club in the 4–0 defeat to Dagenham & Redbridge on 5 May 2012, coming on as a 73rd-minute replacement for fellow youth team graduate Eliot Richards. His full debut for the club came in the first game of the 2013–14 season, a 2–1 defeat to Exeter City, when he started up front alongside David Clarkson.