PIONEERING gay football manager Luke Tuffs has praised Blackpool teenager Jake Daniels for bravely coming out.
On Monday, Daniels, 17, became the first active British male professional footballer to reveal he is homosexual.
Jake Daniels became the first active British male professional footballer to reveal he is homosexual.Credit: Not known, clear with picture deskGay football manager Luke Tuffs has praised Blackpool’s Jake Daniels for coming outCredit: Oliver Dixon
Tuffs, who is the boss at non-league Leatherhead FC, had his own similar experience, when he revealed he had a boyfriend to team-mates at Camberley Town when he was a youngster.
And he believes Daniels’ decision will benefit many gay men and women in and out of the football world.
Tuffs exclusively told SunSport: “I am really proud of the young boy.
“The steps that he has taken today will change the lives of so many people, both young and old, and in and out of football.
Blackpool’s Jake Daniels becomes 1st openly gay footballer since Fashanu
“I think that can’t be understated enough. I’m pleased that he’s found his truth, and I think he will be a lot more free because of it, as will so many other people because of his bravery.
“I also think it’s a credit to those around him – that he’s got that support network that he feels he’s in a safe place to be able to come out. It shows the way the world is going.”
Daniels has been a revelation at youth level for Blackpool, scoring 30 goals for the U19s, as well as striking against Chelsea and Newcastle in the FA Youth Cup.
Tuffs believes Daniel will profit from coming out at a younger age.
“I think it helps because he’s not had years and years of people making assumptions, and pretend to be someone he is not,” Tuffs explained.
“Now, from a very young age, he is free to be who he is and live the life he was born to have.”
However, Tuffs warned that the Football League will have to do their utmost to protect Daniels from fan abuse.
“I think what’s really important now is that everyone from the outside makes sure he is protected,” he said.
“And certainly, if there is any abuse in games, it absolutely has to be called out.
The steps that he has taken today will change the lives of so many people, both young and old, and in and out of football.
Luke Tuffs on Jake Daniels for bravely coming out as gay
“The Football League now have to protect this young man and make sure he’s free to be who he is and has the chance to flourish in the game.
“There is always going to be some idiots, but anything that is homophobic will have to be reported.
“But now he’s got the platform to let his football do the talking.”
In a courageous act, Daniels spoke to Sky Sports and said he hopes his decision to go public will encourage other pros to open up about their sexuality.
The teenage prospect said: “Now is the right time to do it. I feel like I am ready to tell people my story. I want people to know the real me.
Justin Fashanu revealed he was gay in 1990 but took his own life eight years laterCredit: GettyJosh Cavallo is the other current male player in the world of football that has come out as gayCredit: AFP
“I have been thinking for a long time about how I want to do it, when I want to do it.
“I know now is the time. I am ready to be myself, be free and be confident with it all.
“I can’t really put a date on it, but I was probably five or six years old when I knew I was gay.
“So it’s been a long time that I have been living with the lie. At that age you don’t really think that football and being gay doesn’t mix.
“You just think, one day, when I’m older I’ll get a girlfriend and I will change and it will be fine.
“But as you get older you realise you can’t just change. It doesn’t work like that.”
Just one current male player in the world of football has come out as gay — 22-year-old Josh Cavallo, of Australia’s Adelaide United.
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The only prominent male English footballer to have done so was Justin Fashanu, who revealed he was gay in 1990. He took his own life eight years later.
Other stars — including ex-Aston Villa ace Thomas Hitzlsperger, 40, and former Hull City youth player Thomas Beattie, 35 — came out when their careers ended.
