Former Premier League Stripper Dave Kitson Confesses to Being The Secret Footballer
In a startling revelation that ends years of speculation, former Premier League footballer Dave Kitson has admitted he is the anonymous writer known as The Secret Footballer. Kitson, who played for clubs including Reading, Stoke City, and Portsmouth, disclosed his identity in a YouTube interview, stating the secret project "stopped being fun" after the tragic death of Welsh manager Gary Speed.
A Decade of Anonymous Exposés
During the 2010s, The Secret Footballer authored five books and maintained a weekly newspaper column, offering candid, behind-the-scenes insights into professional football. The true identity of the writer became a popular online mystery, with fans and pundits eagerly analysing every clue in an attempt to unmask the author.
Kitson explained that the idea originated from his own dissatisfaction with the direction of modern football and his need for a creative outlet. "I am The Secret Footballer. I’ve never said that out loud before," he confessed. "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." He described writing as a "cathartic" process that helped him navigate the complexities of the sport.
The Immense Pressure of Secrecy
Balancing a high-profile football career with anonymous journalism proved extraordinarily challenging. Kitson revealed that maintaining the pseudonym while playing professionally generated significant anxiety. "It was fun for a while, then it bred huge anxiety," he admitted. "I had a career and a big contract. If I’d been outed, I would have been sacked and ostracised."
Despite these personal risks, Kitson believes his work as The Secret Footballer had a profound impact on the sport. He claims his writings "changed football in this country and led to overhauls at the highest levels, which I’m proud of." The column initially aimed to explain industry dynamics without targeting individuals, focusing instead on systemic issues.
The Gary Speed Tragedy: A Turning Point
The emotional weight of the project became unbearable following the death of Gary Speed. Kitson recalled publishing a column titled ‘Sometimes There’s Darkness Behind the Light’, which addressed mental health in football—a taboo subject at the time. "Nobody talked about mental health in football then. If you spoke about it, you were seen as weak," he said. "I said there was a mental health epidemic and I predicted it was only a matter of time before someone took their own life."
The article was published on a Saturday. The very next day, Gary Speed was found dead. "That’s when the Secret Footballer stopped being fun," Kitson concluded, marking this tragic event as the definitive end of his anonymous writing venture.
