Secret Footballer

[Betting_man]

Hi Hoop Blah - wouldn't say I trawled the internet looking for mentions - this is a Reading forum after all, and I guessed there would be a topic on it. Just an interested football fan at the end of the day, and I found the Reading stuff particularly interesting.

Anyways, here's the piece about Murty (or II) if you fancy a read: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog ... er-captain

Has Kitson ever been a captain though? I don't think he would have been with either us or Stoke. Cambridge perhaps? Pompey?

Yep, he's at least captained Pompey...

http://www.mfc.co.uk/page/matches/repor ... 60,00.html

[sheshnu]

Shorey is a prick, not welcome here. Brian's first mistake.

[Royalcop]

It's definitely Kitson and not Shorey, having just finished the book I'd be willing to stake a reasonably large amount of money on this as there is nothing in there that doesn't fit with Kitson's career and experiences.

Start in non-league and discovered late? check
Promoted to Prem? check
Team mate receives first England cap and is more excited by the money? That'll be Shorey then
Failed big money move followed by bust-up with manager? check
Intimate knowledge of a club in financial difficulties and personal financial issues? check

Also the video on the Guardian site (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/vide ... ller-video) is sufficient to tell it's not Shorey but is spot on build / body shape for Kits. Shorey has never struck me as being particularly intelligent whereas Kits always seemed a bit more intelligent than the average player and gobby to boot. Also I think from the book it's sufficient to tell he's not a defender and has never played for England (or any country for that matter).

Also look at this article from 2008 in FourFourTwo http://weekendwonders.co.uk/news/story.aspx?id=43 similar views on football to TSF

and this http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/pompe ... -1-3026897 where he talks about a love of wine and books (TSF talks about buying £1300 bottle of red on a night out with friends), case closed I think.

By the way, the book is very entertaining and well written and a must for any RFC fan given it's look behind the scenes of our club. It's only about £4 on Kindle; what a bargain

[Hoop Blah]

Has it been suggested that it was Shorey?

[Ian Royal]

Has it been suggested that it was Shorey?

Yes, but not very convincingly.

[leon]

Reading the book and I'm not sure it rings true as Kitson.

[paultheroyal]

Secret footballer off to Sheffield United

[Royal With Cheese]

I think it's David Kitson.

[Uke]

(TSF talks about buying £1300 bottle of red on a night out with friends), case closed I think.

Case opened Shirley?

[MmmMonsterMunch]

Monster Munch - As far as I am aware, he has never posted an article on seeing racism on the terraces in the 70s. Also, that would make the player 38/39 at the very least, and there are v few that age still playing (David James, Giggs?)!

He did post this about first encountering racism when it was directed at his friends from a multicultural council estate though, and makes a reference to the 70s, so perhaps that is where that came from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog ... t-chanting

And Kitson grew up in Hitchin - nice town centre maybe, but the place does have a couple of estates I believe.

Oh and Monster Munch - if you hadn't seen the 'Murty' piece, I'm guessing you hadn't seen the 'Sidwell' (thanks for those that answered that btw) one, either - it's here, if you're interested http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog ... es-friends

Thanks for the link but I've ordered the book & not read many of the articles so will wait til the book arrives.

[Croydon Royal]

Another twist to the tale? https://twitter.com/thedevilstweets Look at the Tweets sent 7 hours ago, namely:

@thedevilstweets
Ha, the @TSFGuardian "The Secret Footballer" is a bit stupid - Inadvertently leaked a massive clue to who he is...

@thedevilstweets
Revealing his website being "thesecretfootballer" dot com I checked to see if the co uk one redirected to it... which is was...

@thedevilstweets
A quick check on "whois" and you see the domain is registered to "IPS Law" who only have 3 footballing clients...

@thedevilstweets
http://bit.ly/RE7Pbc Chris Samba, Charlie Adam and Paul Robinson @TSFGuardian #Boom

‏

[TBM]

Well its not Samba as he talks about (in the book) getting in with the blacks and being classed as an "honoury brother" - he also says that he was always played at right back or on the wing in trials.......so not Paul Robinson?!

But anyway, IPS Law could be representing Paul Johnson or Ian Prior from the Guardian!?

[ZacNaloen]

The guy in the videos is not Chris Sambas build

[ZacNaloen]

Anyway, it's worth noting those guys aren't their only clients. Just have a look at the "people" page.

[TBM]

Anyway, it's worth noting those guys aren't their only clients. Just have a look at the "people" page.

Exactly and its more than likely this players agent is the one doing the talking between him and IPS

Advising a number of leading UK and International football agents in relation to various regulatory and contractual matters.

[RIP apes]

The guy in the videos is not Chris Sambas build

lol

[Man Friday]

IMO it's Kitson. Certainly his build.

[reading_fan]

he also says that he was always played at right back or on the wing in trials.......so not Paul Robinson?!

Depends if it means goalkeeper Paul Robinson or the Paul Robinson who played fullback for WBA and Bolton (admittedly normally a left back)

[Seal]

It's like the Stig all over again.

Eventually the vanity of the anonymous individual in question boils over, they can't fight it any more and have to reveal themselves...

[TBM]

he also says that he was always played at right back or on the wing in trials.......so not Paul Robinson?!

Depends if it means goalkeeper Paul Robinson or the Paul Robinson who played fullback for WBA and Bolton (admittedly normally a left back)

I'm guessing you didn't look at the link then........its the GK