Gay striker in UK gets big support

LONDON: Blackpool teenager Jake Daniels’ decision to come out as the first gay professional footballer in the UK men’s game in more than 30 years was heralded as a historic moment on Monday.

The 17-year-old forward made the announcement on the club’s website. “Off the pitch I’ve been hiding the real me and who I really am,” he said. “I’ve known my whole life that I’m gay, and I now feel that I’m ready to come out and be myself.”

Former Norwich and Nottingham Forest striker Justin Fashanu came out publicly as gay in 1990, during his playing career.

Daniels, who recently made his first-team debut for the club, said he had confided in his teammates in the youth team, who had supported him.

“I’ve hated lying my whole life and feeling the need to change to fit in,” he said. “I want to be a role model myself by doing this.

“There are people out there in the same space as me that may not feel comfortable revealing their sexuality. I just want to tell them that you don’t have to change who you are, or how you should be, just to fit in.”

All 20 Premier League clubs tweeted their support of Daniels, who received praise from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Former Man United captain Gary Neville said Daniels’ decision was “a big moment for football.”

“What he has just done takes incredible courage,” said Neville. “I can’t imagine how difficult that has been.

“All I would say is it’s a day of great importance for Jake and his family, but also for English football. It will go down in history. It is a big moment for football.”

Premier League teams have worn rainbow laces for one weekend each season since 2013 as part of a campaign led by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights charity Stonewall.

“We are proud that Jake has felt able to share his truth with the world,” said Stonewall’s director of programmes Liz Ward.