Now that I'm 100000% sure who the secret footballer is, I thought it would interesting to try and put names to the anonymous people in the stories. For anybody who doesn't know, it's Dave Kitson. If you doubt me, then not only is he the leading candidate on the website dedicated to finding out who it is, but these pieces of evidence are fairly conclusive in my opinion:
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/pitchside-europe/dave-kitson-touted-secret-footballer-book-revelations-121438824.html
http://metro.co.uk/2013/12/24/is-dave-kitson-the-secret-footballer-danish-tv-think-they-have-exposed-him-4242010/
Anyway, I don't who has read the book or who has read much of his weekly column, but for those of you who have read the book you will be familiar a story he tells, which goes something like this:
He was suffering badly with gastroentiritis. Unfortunately, at the same time, he was barely on speaking terms with the manager of the club he was currently playing for. He tried to call in sick for training, but the manager wasn't having it, and insisted that he come in to training so at the least the doctor could confirm that he was sick. Kitson insisted that he couldn't be away from a toilet for that long, but the manager spitefully demanded that he come in or he would receive a hefty fine. After dragging himself to training via 3 stops to the toilet, the doctor confirmed his illness. At the end of his visit, the manager walked into the room, received confirmation from the doctor and said to Dave Kitson, something like: "You better get yourself home then lad, you don't wanna go spreading that thing around here. Oh, and your fined 2 weeks wages for being half an hour late to see the doctor".
I probably didn't do it justice as I don't have the book in front of me right now, but I remember reading that story and thinking, good grief, what an a hole that manager is, I'd love to know who it was. I also remember thinking that the world of professional football is probably a lot more of a spiteful, backstabbing, free for all than most of us realise.
Anyway, the other day I looked up all the different managers Dave Kitson has played under. Not only did his big money move to Stoke fail, but Tony Pulis branded him 'petulant' when he left the club. Kitson felt he was not being utilised in the right way by the manager, and went out on loan not once but twice, in only 2 years at stoke.
Minor fallouts are probably not uncommon, but to get to a point where you are not on speaking terms with a manager is really something. Something that would lead to one of the relevant parties taking a parting shot at the other one as they part ways. Kitson's time at Stoke was a bumpy ride to say the least, and he was never really settled there. Surely the manager in question here has to be Pulis?
Confirmed: Tony Pulis is a douche?
posted on 21/1/14
"So people, or rather journalists (often not the same thing), want to destroy this part of his career too then? Why can't the 'Secret Footballer' be left to remain secret? He clearly doesn't want to be identified, who does it serve to do so?"
I agree with you in the sense that if I was a journalist I would not pursue this story. But I am not a journalist I am a poster on ja606 and aware that only about 20 or 30 people will read this so I felt it was morally acceptable to post it.
It doesn't really serve anyone to reveal his identity other than it's interesting, and, as alluded to in the article could put names to some of the stories.
But I wouldn't say revealing him would 100% destroy this side of his career. It could lead to other avenues. And who's to say that he isn't going to confirm his identity one day anyway. But all in all, I agree that pursuing the truth of his identity is a bit selfish, but it is undeniably interesting.
On another note, I love Dave Kitson for what he has done here, and I have massive respect for him and agree with a lot of what he says. He seems like an awesome guy.
posted on 21/1/14
"If I remember correctly, he also tells a story in his first book about one of his ex-managers that had a personal grudge against Arsenal, to the extent that he would try to rile his players up more than normal when they faced the Gunners,
This would fit Pulis and his attitude towards Arsenal, particularly after the Shawcross incident."
I forgot about this! God this makes me hate Pulis even more, if that was possible.
posted on 21/1/14
"If Kitson is writing it, then someone is helping him. Having spoken with him a few times in his Reading days, he was hardly the most articulate of people. A real nice, down to earth lad, but he was no Shakespeare."
I'm not sure about this, he seems pretty articulate to me whenever I have seen him interviewed.
Also, remember that it's quite possible for a man to come across differently in interviews/chats than he does in his books/articles. Remember he has time to sit over and analyse/check/correct his work. Interviews and chats with people like yourself are a more spontaneous and informal thing, therefore it is likely that he would come across differently.
posted on 21/1/14
comment by Arshavin's Legacy (U10307)
posted 24 minutes ago
"So people, or rather journalists (often not the same thing), want to destroy this part of his career too then? Why can't the 'Secret Footballer' be left to remain secret? He clearly doesn't want to be identified, who does it serve to do so?"
I agree with you in the sense that if I was a journalist I would not pursue this story. But I am not a journalist I am a poster on ja606 and aware that only about 20 or 30 people will read this so I felt it was morally acceptable to post it.
It doesn't really serve anyone to reveal his identity other than it's interesting, and, as alluded to in the article could put names to some of the stories.
But I wouldn't say revealing him would 100% destroy this side of his career. It could lead to other avenues. And who's to say that he isn't going to confirm his identity one day anyway. But all in all, I agree that pursuing the truth of his identity is a bit selfish, but it is undeniably interesting.
On another note, I love Dave Kitson for what he has done here, and I have massive respect for him and agree with a lot of what he says. He seems like an awesome guy.
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I wasn't attacking you or your article, I had hoped that was clear.
Clearly anonymous articles can be written with a degree of freedom and openess rarely available to the average hack - as long as this isn't abused, ie to be offensive or to attack some other named person, then all is well and good. It strikes me that the only reason these 'journalists' want to expose it, is because it's popular and it's not in their paper. Sour grapes.
All it will mean is whoever is writing the column will be forced in with the rest of the boring hacks. End of interesting 'true' stories. Stupid.
posted on 21/1/14
Kitson signed for Portsmouth in 2010 and TSF says he had a premier league contract in 2011.
Was Kitson on loan?
posted on 21/1/14
"I wasn't attacking you or your article, I had hoped that was clear.
Clearly anonymous articles can be written with a degree of freedom and openess rarely available to the average hack - as long as this isn't abused, ie to be offensive or to attack some other named person, then all is well and good. It strikes me that the only reason these 'journalists' want to expose it, is because it's popular and it's not in their paper. Sour grapes.
All it will mean is whoever is writing the column will be forced in with the rest of the boring hacks. End of interesting 'true' stories. Stupid."
I didn't think you were, but I felt it was necessary to explain my post. But yes, by and large I agree with you. It is a bit naughty of these journalists to do this. It will be a shame if we never hear anything from the secret footballer again. I've found his work incredibly fascinating.
posted on 21/1/14
And BIGIRISHGOONER, I'm not sure that's right mate. Where does it say that? I'm pretty sure the website and the journalists would have picked up on that if it were true...?
posted on 21/1/14
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 22/1/14
comment by Arshavin's Legacy (U10307)
posted 20 hours, 21 minutes ago
And BIGIRISHGOONER, I'm not sure that's right mate. Where does it say that? I'm pretty sure the website and the journalists would have picked up on that if it were true...?
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From the article 22nd Jan 2011
“There’s a striking clause in my Premier League contract” - speaking in the present tense, so he is either playing for a Prem Club or plaing lower down but still belongs to one. That's why I'm asking if Kitson was on loan.
posted on 22/1/14
Sorry should have included the link.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/jan/22/the-secret-footballer