Blackpool FC forward Jake Daniels becomes UK’s first male professional footballer to come out as gay since Justin Fashanu in 1990

Blackpool FC forward Jake Daniels becomes UK’s first male professional footballer to come out as gay since Justin Fashanu in 1990

Blackpool FC’s Jake Daniels has come out as gay in a televised interview today, becoming Britain’s only active openly gay professional player.

The 17-year-old forward, who made his senior debut for the club this month, was reportedly ‘very relaxed’ about his sexuality and has the full backing of his teammates and the Championship club.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he was said to be ‘keen to break the stigma’ and has become the only openly gay active male pro in the country and the first since Justin Fashanu in 1990. Daniels, who has been with Blackpool FC since the age of seven, said he first realised he was gay at the age of five or six but thought it would be something that would change as he got older because football and being gay ‘didn’t really mix’. The only other openly gay active player in the world is Joshua Cavallo who plays in Australia