Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Lawrence Ostlere

Jake Daniels: Blackpool player becomes first UK professional male footballer to come out as gay in 30 years

Paul Dennis/TGS Photo/Shutterstock

Jake Daniels made history at the age of 17 on Monday as the first male professional footballer in the UK to come out as gay for 30 years.

The Blackpool FC forward, who recently signed his first professional contract after a stellar season of goalscoring for the youth team, 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.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.