A decade and a half after his first published words startled a football community resistant to change, Dave Kitson believes his anonymous writings helped break down barriers in the professional game. "It changed football in this country and led to overhauls at the highest levels, which I am proud of," he says.

Kitson's official confirmation that he was indeed The Secret Footballer - author of five books and a regular newspaper column - has come with a detailed explanation of why he did it and what he thought he achieved. And when he says "it changed football in this country", he is right - to an extent. Because the truth is, there are still many secret footballers out there - but secret footballers who feel compelled NOT to share their feelings and views, not even under the cloak of anonymity.

That is why The Secret Footballer's dispatches were groundbreaking.

This was an elite footballer talking about the pressures of everyday life. This was an elite footballer shining a light on the darker side of the most glamorous of industries.

Within the game and on fan forums, his identity eventually became common knowledge, but for a good while, the quest to name The Secret Footballer became obsessive.

And in his admission, Kitson gives an explanation of why he remained anonymous - an explanation that is obvious but still very telling about the culture within the sport.

"It bred huge anxiety," he says. "I had a career and a big contract. If I'd been outed, I would have been sacked and ostracised."

For what, exactly? One man's tale-telling is another man's honesty.

Kitson goes on to point out that his Secret Footballer writings were the precursor for podcasts and social media sites that have facilitated more open and honest discussions about issues in football that were conveniently ignored for so long.

And again, he is right, but only to an extent.

There have been a lot of ex-players who have spoken candidly about mental health issues in football, and it is no longer a taboo subject.

But there still seems to be a reluctance for current players to speak up about their concerns.

Under his Secret Footballer pseudonym, Kitson wrote about mental health and a column, entitled Sometimes There Is Darkness Behind the Light, was published shortly before Gary Speed's tragic death.

"I became angry at the authorities for being passive on the issue of mental health and not doing enough," he says.

"I still feel anger towards them, but fortunately, the people who were in those positions are no longer there, and things have changed and improved."

They have changed, they have improved, but there is, of course, so much more work to be done.

It is unthinkable, but it would do no harm to have another Secret Footballer.

The original writings not only tackled serious issues but also gave an insight into what happens in a dressing room, what happens in the world of player-agents, and what happens in the dugout.

The public utterances of the modern player are so often micro-managed by in-house publicity experts nowadays. A lot of what we see is through the filter of PR.

That is why Kitson believes he would have been sacked had his identity been confirmed while he was playing and writing at the same time.

If you look back at the words, it is hard to believe he would have been dismissed, but that idea reflects the unwritten code that says what goes on in the dressing room stays in the dressing room.

The Secret Footballer brought that world - and issues that were far more important - blinking into the light.

Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you're feeling, or if you're worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org