When he came out as gay in September through a private Facebook post, Zander Murray thought he was just opening himself up to a select few.
But six months later, the striker admits to being overwhelmed at the impact that his decision to live his life as his true self has had. At the time, Murray was playing Lowland League side Gala Fairydean Rovers, with his coming out making him Scotland's first openly gay senior footballer ever, following just a few months after Blackpool's Jake Daniels became the first openly gay UK footballer since Justin Fashanu.
Murray became an immediate role model for young LGBT+ footballers, something he himself did not have growing up. And he has pledged to empower that next generation as football becomes a more welcoming place for the LGBT+ community.
