Former Stoke striker reveals himself as The Secret Footballer
His writing brought attention to issues within the sport including mental health
Former Stoke striker, Dave Kitson, has revealed himself as 'The Secret Footballer,' explaining how his anonymous work stopped being enjoyable following the death of Gary Speed.
During the 2010s, Kitson, under the pseudonym, wrote five books and maintained a weekly newspaper column, addressing his frustrations with modern football.
In a YouTube interview, Kitson openly disclosed his identity, a mystery that intrigued fans who eagerly attempted to piece together clues.
Reflecting on his motivations, Kitson, who also played for Reading, Cambridge, Sheffield United, and Portsmouth, said: "I am The Secret Footballer. I've never said that out loud before. 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."
Kitson's passion for writing, stemming from childhood, provided a cathartic means to process his experiences in the football industry.
Initially focused on shedding light rather than naming individuals, Kitson noted: "It started as something that wasn't about naming names. It was about explaining what happens in the industry and why."
The anonymity offered a platform to express opinions without fear of repercussions, as Kitson explained: "I had a career and a big contract. If I'd been outed, I would have been sacked and ostracised. Now everyone has a podcast and an outlet. Back then, it was genuinely new."
Kitson expressed pride in how his work spurred changes within football, despite the personal toll: "It changed football in this country and led to overhauls at the highest levels, which I'm proud of. But the stress and anxiety were immense."
A pivotal moment came when Kitson wrote about mental health, predicting a mental health crisis in football: "The worst thing that happened was when I wrote a column about mental health called 'Sometimes There's Darkness Behind the Light'."
Highlighting the stigma surrounding mental health discussions in football at the time, Kitson emphasized: "Nobody talked about mental health in football then. If you spoke about it, you were seen as weak. I said there was a mental health epidemic and I predicted it was only a matter of time before someone took their own life."
Tragically, the piece was published just days before the death of Gary Speed, marking a turning point for Kitson: "It went out Saturday. On Sunday, Gary Speed was found dead. That's when the Secret Footballer stopped being fun."
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