Footballer Jake Daniels has made history by becoming the first active British male professional footballer to come out as gay.
The 17-year-old is the first British male footballer to come out publicly since Justin Fashanu more than 30 years ago. The teenager hopes that going public about his own sexuality will encourage others in the game who may be dubious about doing the same.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, 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.
READ MORE: Newcastle United set to confirm pre-season schedule for first overseas summer tour since 2019
"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."
The Mirror reports Daniels has shone at youth level for Blackpool in the past season, scoring 30 goals for the under-19s and striking against Chelsea and Newcastle in the FA Youth Cup. He made his senior debut as a substitute in a 5-0 defeat at Peterborough on the final day of the Championship season.
Daniels added: "For a long time I've thought I would have to hide my truth because I wanted to be, and now I am, a professional footballer. I asked myself if I should wait until I've retired to come out. No other player in the professional game here is out.
"However, I knew that would lead to a long time of lying and not being able to be myself or lead the life that I want to."
Daniels admitted the decision to come out to friends and family was a weight off his shoulders. He continued: "Since I've come out to my family, my club and my team-mates, that period of overthinking everything and the stress it created has gone. It was impacting my mental heath. Now I am just confident and happy to be myself finally. I first told my mum and my sister, who I live with. 'Yeah, we already knew,' was how they reacted.
"Then we told my whole family and at this point I was quite scared because I didn't know how the older generation might react. I needn't have worried. I've had so many messages saying, 'we are proud and we are supportive.'
"It's been amazing. I couldn't have wished for it to go better. 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."
Blackpool praised the teenager's bravery. In a statement, the club said: "Blackpool Football Club has worked closely with Stonewall and the relevant footballing organisations to support Jake and is incredibly proud that he has reached a stage where he is empowered to express himself both on-and-off the pitch.
"It is vital that we all promote an environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves, and that football leads the way in removing any form of discrimination and prejudice."
The Professional Footballers' Association also celebrated Daniels' bravery. They said: "We are extremely proud of Jake and have been working with him and his club. He has the complete support of everyone at the PFA."
The Football vs Homophobia organisation added: "Football v Homophobia would like to congratulate Jake on taking this step to share his authentic self in the men's professional game, especially at such a young age. There have previously been players who felt that they had no place in the game as out gay men during their playing careers, but Jake is showing the world that you can be yourself.
"We hope that football will join us in celebrating Jake's news and take proactive steps to ensure that he receives the support he deserves, from players, fans, clubs and the football authorities."
Football clubs and players were quick to throw their support behind Daniels, with Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville calling it "a moment of great importance" as he saluted the teen's bravery. Former Aston Villa, West Ham and Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, who came out after retiring from football, tweeted: "Well done Jake Daniels. Have a wonderful career! Great to see the support of Blackpool and Stonewall to make this possible."
The official Twitter account of the Premier League quote tweeted Blackpool and simply stated: "Football is everyone's game."
Read next:
