The writer behind “The Secret Footballer” has now publicly revealed himself as former Premier League striker Dave Kitson.

Who is The Secret Footballer?

  • The Secret Footballer was an anonymous ex‑professional who wrote a popular column for The Guardian from around 2011, plus a series of tell‑all books about life inside English football.
  • For years, fans tried to match biographical clues (clubs played for, positions, career timeline) to real players, with Dave Kitson long considered the leading candidate.

2026: Identity finally confirmed

  • In February 2026, Dave Kitson – ex‑Reading, Stoke, Cambridge, Sheffield United and Portsmouth forward – stated on record in interviews that “I am The Secret Footballer.”
  • He explained that the project began because he was unhappy with the direction of football and needed a way to express himself for his own mental health.

What did The Secret Footballer write about?

  • The columns and books “lifted the lid” on the modern game: dressing‑room culture, agents, contracts, nightlife, and the psychological pressures of being a pro, including depression.
  • His work mixed personal stories with anecdotes from around the game, and some readers on forums long suspected he blended in tales from other players to protect his identity.

How forums and fans treated the mystery

  • Dedicated sites like “Who Is The Secret Footballer?” and long Reddit threads spent years scoring candidates against a checklist of clues, with Kitson usually coming out on top.
  • Some fans even theorised the persona was a composite of several players, but the recent admissions from Kitson have effectively ended that debate.

Mini FAQ

  1. Was The Secret Footballer always Dave Kitson?
    All available reporting and Kitson’s own words now point to him being the single author behind the main column and books, even if some stories were anonymised or borrowed.
  1. Is there any doubt left?
    Mainstream outlets such as The Independent, ESPN, the Express and GOAL have all reported Kitson’s on‑record admission, and he has not contradicted it.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.