Former Reading striker Dave Kitson confirms identity as The Secret Footballer
Former Premier League striker Dave Kitson has publicly confirmed his identity as the author behind the ‘Secret Footballer’ pseudonym after 15 years of speculation.
The 44-year-old finally ended the mystery surrounding the anonymous columnist and author who exposed the inner workings of the elite game.
Kitson, who featured for Reading, Stoke City and Portsmouth, used the platform to highlight the “billion-dollar circus” of modern football.
Ending the speculation
Fans and dedicated websites had spent over a decade analysing clues from the weekly dispatches to determine who was behind the accounts.
The articles offered a candid look at dressing room politics, the influence of agents and the cynicism within the industry.
While player-led podcasts are now common, the column was considered ground-breaking for its time.
Kitson has now admitted the writing served as a necessary release during his playing career.
“I am The Secret Footballer. I’ve never said that out loud before,” Kitson said.
“It was an idea that came to me when I wasn’t happy with where football was going and I needed an outlet to express it for my own mental health.”
A cathartic release
The former forward revealed that he originally aspired to be a travel writer before finding himself in professional sport.
He described the writing process as a way to cope with the pressures and misgivings of the industry.
“I never set out to be a footballer. It was one of those things that just happened,” he added.
“The writing was cathartic. It helped me process what was going on in football.”
Premier League pedigree
Kitson made 81 appearances in the Premier League, scoring 15 goals in the top flight.
Across a career spanning seven clubs, the target man netted 115 times in 403 total matches.
He also achieved significant success with Reading, helping them secure promotion to the Premier League with a record-breaking 106 points in the 2005-06 Championship season.
Kitson is now working as a motivational speaker following his retirement from the professional game.