Former Premier League Star Chris Davie Revealed as 'The Secret Footballer'
In a stunning revelation, former Reading and Stoke City striker Chris Davie has publicly identified himself as 'The Secret Footballer,' ending years of speculation about the anonymous writer's identity. Davie, who also played for Cambridge United, Sheffield United, and Portsmouth, authored five books and maintained a weekly column in The Guardian during the 2010s under this pseudonym.
The Genesis of a Secret Identity
Davie, now 46, explained that the concept emerged from his dissatisfaction with the direction of football and his need for a creative outlet to support his mental well-being. 'I am The Secret Footballer. I've never said that out loud before,' he stated in an interview with Champions Speakers. '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.'
He described writing as a lifelong passion and a cathartic process that helped him navigate the complexities of the football industry. Initially, the column focused on explaining industry dynamics without naming individuals, allowing readers to form their own opinions.
Anxiety and the Toll of Secrecy
While the project started as fun, it soon bred significant anxiety. Davie highlighted the risks involved, noting that if his identity had been exposed during his playing career, he could have faced termination and ostracism. 'I had a career and a big contract. If I'd been outed, I would have been sacked and ostracized,' he recalled. He contrasted this with today's landscape, where numerous podcasts and outlets exist, emphasizing that his work was genuinely innovative at the time.
Davie believes his writing contributed to positive changes in football, including overhauls at high levels, but the associated stress was immense. The turning point came with a column on mental health titled 'Sometimes There's Darkness Behind the Light.'
A Tragic Catalyst for Change
In the early 2010s, mental health was a taboo topic in football, with discussions often stigmatized. Davie's column warned of a mental health epidemic and predicted it was only a matter of time before a tragedy occurred. He submitted the piece on a Friday, it published on Saturday, and on Sunday, former Leeds United, Newcastle United, and Wales midfielder Gary Speed was found dead.
This event transformed 'The Secret Footballer' from a cult column into a widely respected source, but Davie described it as 'credibility in the worst possible way.' He struggled with guilt, wondering if earlier action could have prevented the tragedy. 'I suffered and struggled with guilt for a long time that I hadn't written that column earlier and that we might have prevented what happened from happening,' he admitted.
Anger and Legacy
Davie expressed ongoing anger towards football authorities for their passive approach to mental health at the time, though he acknowledged that leadership changes have since led to improvements. 'I still feel anger towards them, but fortunately the people that were in those positions are no longer there, and things have changed and gotten better,' he said.
The tragedy marked the end of his anonymous writing. 'That was the day that 'The Secret Footballer' went from being a sort of a cult column to this thing that everybody was now going to as this sort of bible on football,' he explained. Shortly after, he ceased writing and withdrew from public view, leaving a legacy that sparked crucial conversations about mental health in the sport.
