'An inspiration to many': Jake Daniels praised by Boris Johnson for 'bravery' in coming out

Boris Johnson has hailed the courage of Jake Daniels, the 17-year-old Blackpool striker, who on Monday became the first current male professional footballer in Britain to come out publicly as gay.

The Prime Minister commended Daniels for his decision, tweeting: "Thanks you for your bravery Jake, it would have taken huge courage to come out and you will be an inspiration to many both on and off the pitch."

In a landmark moment for both the game and the LGBTQ+ community, Daniels revealed his sexuality in an article published by Sky Sports.

He wrote: “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.

“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.”

Justin Fashanu became the first male British professional to come out publicly in 1990 but, after taking his own life eight years later, he had not been followed since.

Daniels ended what was a 32-year wait just over a week after making his first-team debut as a substitute on the final day of the Championship season.

Revealing he only came out to his own family in January ahead of an under-18s match against Accrington Stanley, he said: “The day after I told my mum and sister, we played Accrington and I scored four goals, so it just shows how much of a weight off the shoulders and what a massive relief it was.”

Daniels, who signed his first professional contract the following month, 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.

“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 health. Now I am just confident and happy to be myself finally.”

Blackpool, the Professional Footballers’ Association and LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall helped Daniels announce his sexuality after he informed them of his decision to reveal it publicly.

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 PFA 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.

“Our message to anyone in the game who is thinking about a similar, extremely personal decision is simple – whatever you decide, and however you choose to move forward, we are here for you. As your footballing family we will give you all the support you need, whenever you need it.”

Liz Ward, director of programmes at Stonewall, said: “We are proud that Jake has felt able to share his truth with the world. To come out publicly as the UK’s first openly gay professional footballer in nearly 30 years takes incredible courage, and we’re heartened by the solidarity and support he has received from Blackpool FC and his team-mates.

“Football is ready for this moment, and we believe it has been for some time. Our Rainbow Laces campaign has taught us that, while there is still a way to go, attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people in sport are changing.

“We are moving towards a world where players can live openly as their true selves, both on and off pitch - and that is something we can all take pride in.

“Stonewall is proud to provide ongoing support to Jake, his close network and Blackpool FC to navigate the challenges of coming out in the public eye. This is an opportunity for everyone involved in football – from the players to the fans in the stands – to support Jake and show that football is everybody’s game.”

The Football Association said: “Jake, you are an inspiration to us all and we fully support your decision to be open about this part of yourself. Football is a game for all, with diversity at its heart, and this is a hugely positive step as we strive to build an inclusive game that we can all be proud of.”

Daniels’ announcement was met with a tidal wave of goodwill from the world of football and beyond, with Rio Ferdinand among the first ex-players to praise the teenager.

It is extremely rare for a professional male player to come out publicly, with Josh Cavallo, of Australia’s Adelaide United, becoming the only openly gay top-flight men’s footballer in the world when he did so in October.

The likes of former Aston Villa star Thomas Hitzlsperger and ex-Hull City youth player Thomas Beattie waited until their careers were over before revealing their sexuality.

Pressure awaits, but those close to Daniels clearly believe he has the character to handle it

by Sam Dean

It has been a momentous year in the young life of Jake Daniels, who started the season as a promising youth-team prospect at Blackpool and ends it with a professional contract, a sponsorship deal, a first-team debut and the youth team player-of-the-season award to his name.

For most teenage footballers, such progress would be enough for now. The summer looms, after all, and with it comes a chance to briefly step back from the relentless pressures of the sporting world. This is the time for a holiday, perhaps, or just a chance to do all those things that 17-year-old footballers are not allowed to do during a season.

Daniels, evidently, has other ideas. “It has been quite a crazy year,” he told Sky Sports, in the interview that made him the UK’s only openly gay active male professional footballer. “Everything has happened at once but it feels right. When this season started, I just wanted to prove myself as a player. I think I have. So this was the one last thing in my head that I knew I needed to do.”

Daniels will now become a household name, and a major news story. A different pressure awaits, although it says plenty about his character that his family, club and representative obviously believe he can handle all that is to follow.

It is clear that Daniels was already a credit to his club and a source of pride for all of the academy coaches and administrators who had seen him rise through the youth ranks. He was only seven years old when he first joined Blackpool, a local lad from nearby Bispham who had played for the Bispham Junior Football Federation and Clifton Rangers.

A decade in the junior teams led to a professional contract, signed in February, hours after he had scored against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the FA Youth Cup. “I have worked hard to reach this stage,” he said at the time. “I have just turned a dream into a reality.”

For the club, these are the success stories they all work towards. “He is a local boy,” said academy director Ciaran Donnelly after Daniels signed his professional contract. “Which makes this even more special for the academy, given that he has progressed through the pathway from such a young age.”

The football itself will now fall into the background, in terms of the wider discussion, but it is clear that Daniels is a player of considerable promise. He scored 30 goals for the youth team this= season before making his senior debut against Peterborough earlier this month.

“Jake has great attributes that can give him a real chance of making future progress with the club,” said Donnelly earlier this year. “He is quick, powerful and technically very good off both feet. Scoring goals comes naturally to him.”

Life has not slowed down since Daniels signed that first professional contract, which keeps him at Blackpool until June 2024. In March, he went on loan to Northern Premier League side Bamber Bridge, and then in April he was voted Blackpool’s youth team player of the season.

There is more: earlier this month he scored in the final as the under-18s beat Rochdale to win the Lancashire FA Professional Youth Cup. Then came the senior debut and, following that, he last week posted on social media to say he had agreed a deal with sportswear manufacturers Adidas.

It must have made for quite the whirlwind, but none of it will compare to what comes next. The bravery he has shown will make headlines across the world, and will no doubt change so many aspects of his life. “It is a step into the unknown,” he said in an open letter on Blackpool’s website, although this is clearly a young man who has grown used to making significant strides forward.