Dave Kitson

Dave Kitson is a former premier league footballer best known for his time as forward for Reading FC where he was twice named Reading FC player of the year. The two time PFA Player of the Year made over 400 appearances in the Premier League and Football League and, since retiring, has become a dedicated coach and mentor who has supported a number of professional players as well as inspiring and guiding the next generation of players. The man behind the popular “Secret Footballer” column and the candid reflections on the sport that transformed the way we talk about mental health and performance pressure in elite sport, when hired as a speaker Dave combines his sporting experience with unique insights to deliver engaging and thought-provoking talks. 

Dave began his career playing non-league football for Hitchin Town and Arlesey Town, then in 2001 he joined Cambridge United and in his second season with the club, became the team’s second-top goalscorer. In 2003, Dave joined Reading where he was a essential to Reading’s record breaking 106-point Championship-winning season. After a successful five year tenure at Reading, Dave signed with Stoke City in a deal that broke Stoke’s record transfer fee. In 2010, Dave joined Portsmouth for two years, before signing with Sheffield United in 2012. Then in 2012, Dave joined Oxford United before announcing his decision to retire from playing professional football in 2014. 

Since retiring from professional football, Dave has continued to dedicate himself to the sport, spending time with world class clubs like AC Milan and Real Madrid as well as with top academies to see first-hand how elite clubs coach their talent. In 2023, Dave took all his experience and founded the Dave Kitson Academy, which has gone on to become the biggest football academy in Berkshire, and has coached over 10,000 young players. He is also the football coach at Reading Blue Coat School where he led the team to the school’s first ever national title. Off the pitch, Dave was revealed to be “The Secret Footballer,” the man behind the Guardian column that became the number one read column on Guardian online and led to Sunday Times bestselling books. Dave’s candid exploration about the pressure of elite sport and the mental health epidemic in professional footballer. 

A popular Talksport matchday expert and Sky Sports panellist, Dave is an eloquent speaker with a wealth of knowledge on the beautiful game and the realities of performing and succeeding at an elite level. With an array of great stories from the pitch and a talent for storytelling, Dave is an excellent choice of speaker if you’re looking to engage and entertain your audience. Get in touch today to hire Dave for your next event!