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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Josh Salisbury

Trailblazing gay footballer Josh Cavallo proposes to partner on pitch

Trailblazing gay footballer Josh Cavallo has proposed to his partner on the pitch at Adelaide United's Coopers Stadium.

Australian midfielder Cavallo came out in 2021 and was at the time the world's only top-flight openly gay male professional player.

The 24-year-old thanked his club for their help after getting engaged to Leighton Morrell, sharing pictures of the proposal online at the stadium.

He said the club where he has played since 2021 had provided "a safe space in football" for him.

He wrote on Twitter, formerly X: "Thank you Adelaide United for helping set up this surprise.

"Your endless support has meant so much to me. You have provided a safe space in football, one that I never in my dreams thought could ever be possible, and encouraged me to live every day of my life authentically.

"It felt right to share this special moment on the pitch, where it all started."

Josh Cavallo proposes to partner on pitch at Adelaide United (Josh Cavallo)

Cavallo came out publicly in 2021, saying in a video that he wanted to show “everyone is welcome in the game of football”.

He said at the time: “As a gay footballer, I know there are other players living in silence.

“I want to help change this, to show that everyone is welcome in the game of football, and deserves the right to be their authentic self.”

His announcement helped inspire Jake Daniels to come out as Britain’s only openly gay active male professional footballer.

The Blackpool player, 19, came out in 2022 and said he  “could not have wished” for a better response from his teammates, friends and family after opening up on his sexuality.

Daniels was the first active male footballer to come out as gay since Justin Fashanu in 1990.

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