The Secret Footballer Finally Revealed as Former Premier League Star

Dave Kitson, former striker for Reading, Stoke City, Portsmouth, and Sheffield United, has publicly confirmed he is the mysterious "Secret Footballer" after 15 years of anonymity.[1][2][3]

On February 17, 2026, Kitson made the revelation in interviews and a YouTube podcast, stating, "I am The Secret Footballer. I’ve never said that out loud before."[1][2] The pseudonym fueled five bestselling books—including I Am The Secret Footballer and Tales From The Secret Footballer—and a popular Guardian column during the 2010s, exposing the inner workings, frustrations, and dark side of modern football.[3]

Kitson, who grew up on a rural council estate, signed his first professional contract at 21 and played in the Premier League while still active during the writings. He began the project for mental health reasons: "I wasn’t happy with where football was going, and I needed an outlet to express it."[1][2] What started as cathartic fun turned into immense anxiety due to the risk of exposure. "I had a career and a big contract. If I’d been outed, I would have been sacked and ostracised," he confessed.[1][2]

Fans and journalists obsessed over clues, with websites like "Who Is The Secret Footballer?" dissecting his words. A pivotal moment came with his column Sometimes There’s Darkness Behind the Light, warning of a mental health crisis in football. Published just before Gary Speed's tragic suicide in 2011, it marked when "the Secret Footballer stopped being fun."[2] Kitson credits the writing with averting his own post-career suicidal thoughts and alcohol issues.[3]

His revelations influenced industry changes, sparking discussions on transparency and player welfare. Now unmasked, Kitson reflects proudly on its legacy, noting how podcasts have since normalized such outlets.[1][2]

(Word count: 298)