BLACKPOOL footballer Jake Daniels has come out as the UK’s first gay male footballer since Justin Fashanu in 1990.
At just 17 years old, the forward decided it was time to let the footballing world know what he’d already told his family.
Jake Daniels has made just one appearance for Blackpool Credit: Twitter Daniels 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.
“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.”
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Blackpool’s Jake Daniels becomes 1st openly gay footballer since Fashanu “You just think, one day, when I’m older I’ll get a girlfriend and I will change and it will be fine.”
Who is Jake Daniels? Daniels began his football career at the age of seven when he joined Blackpool.
He started out in their under-18s before signing his first professional contract with them in February.
And in March he went out on loan, linking up with Bamber Bridge for the majority of the rest of the season.
He did make his debut for Blackpool, however, last weekend, coming on as a sub in a 5-0 loss to Peterborough
Jake Daniels went out on loan to Bamber Bridge back in February Credit: Blackpool FC .css-qu9fel{border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-b9nmbi{margin-bottom:16px;border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}
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And in his statement, Daniels spoke about how Blackpool have been a positive influence on his decision to come out.
He added: “The day after I told my mum and sister, we played Accrington [in an under-18s fixture] and I scored four goals, so it just shows how much of a weight off the shoulders and what a massive relief it was.
“And Blackpool have been absolutely amazing too. I am with them every day and I felt safe.
“My team-mates have all been so supportive about it and everyone has had my back.
“They’ve been asking tons of questions, they have all been intrigued and their reaction has been brilliant. It’s the best thing I could have asked for.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
