17 year-old Blackpool forward, Jake Daniels has become the first UK footballer to publicly come out as gay in 32 years.
Daniels this season has mainly played for Blackpool’s youth academy this season where he enjoyed immense success with over 30 goals.
His performances in the Youth Team led to him receiving his first-team debut in the Tangerines’ final Championship match of the season in a 5-0 defeat at Peterborough United.
With the season now over, Daniels has decided to publicly come out as gay as he issued an open message via Blackpool FC’s official website, in which he admitted that he knew that he was gay for his “whole life” and that now was the right time “to come out and be myself.”
Daniels added that his decision to publicly come out is “a step into the unknown” but praised Adelaide United’s Josh Cavallo and other sporting athletes for inspiring him to make the announcement with “courage and determination to drive change.”
The 17 year-old proceeded to praise his family, Blackpool FC, his agent and LGBT organisation, Stonewall for being “incredibly pro-active” in their support of him, whilst also speaking with pride of the positivity that he has had from his youth teammates at Blackpool at his decision to come out.
Reflecting on what legacy he wants to leave by becoming the first openly-gay British footballer in 32 years since Justin Fashanu in 1990, Daniels concluded his message with the following comments: “I’ve hated lying my whole life and feeling the need to change to fit in. 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.
You being you, and being happy, is what matters most.”
Here is Daniels’ open message in full.
This season has been a fantastic one for me on the pitch. I’ve made my first-team debut, scored 30 goals for the youth team, signed my first professional contract and shared success with my team-mates, going on a great run in the FA Youth Cup and lifting the Lancashire FA Pro-Youth Cup.
But off the pitch I’ve been hiding the real me and who I really am. I’ve known my whole life that I’m gay, and I now feel that I’m ready to come out and be myself.
It’s a step into the unknown being one of the first footballers in this country to reveal my sexuality, but I’ve been inspired by Josh Cavallo, Matt Morton and athletes from other sports, like Tom Daley, to have the courage and determination to drive change.
In reaching this point, I’ve had some of the best support and advice from my family, my Club, my agent and Stonewall, who have all been incredibly pro-active in putting my interests and welfare first. I have also confided in my team-mates in the youth team here at Blackpool, and they too have embraced the news and supported my decision to open up and tell people.
I’ve hated lying my whole life and feeling the need to change to fit in. 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.
You being you, and being happy, is what matters most.
Jake
‘Inspiration to people everywhere’
EFL Chief Executive, Trevor Birch has welcomed Daniels announcement in an official statement on behalf of the English Football League, in which he praised the 17 year-old for showing “great courage” to come out publicly.
Birch proceeded to speak of his hope that this announcement marks a step forward as he and the EFL vowed to support Daniels, as he said: “Jake’s actions will no doubt serve as an inspiration to people everywhere. The League is proud that he is part of the EFL family and has our full support.”
With football continuing to battle inequality of all forms following the racism controversy that England encountered last summer, Birch added that he hopes that Daniels coming out will mark a step “forward to a time where LGBTQ+ representation across the men’s professional game is the norm.”
Birch also praised Blackpool for their work in empowering openly positive attitudes around homosexuality whilst working with League Football Education to gain support in making this step forward.
On the prospect of further footballers within the EFL wishing to come out publicly in the future, Birch said: “It is a fundamental principle for the EFL that our Clubs and competitions offer an inclusive and welcoming environment for all those involved in the game, whether that be players, managers, match officials, employees or spectators.
“For its part, the EFL will continue to offer its backing to Jake and to anybody else that wishes to come out in the future.”
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