Jake Daniels started playing football as a toddler. Aged six, he did a trial for Liverpool FC and then trialled for Blackpool FC, who he began playing with at the age of seven. He went on to play in their under-18s before signing his first professional contract with them in February 2022.

Although football was going well for Jake, he struggled with injury and inner turmoil. Not being true to himself was impacting his mental health and his ability to play at his best. He had known he was gay since he was a young boy and was worried about telling his family, his teammates, and the world. But he knew it was something he needed to do. Eventually, he talked to his Mum and then came out to the family in their WhatsApp group. He went on to make it public in 2022, and in an interview with Sky Sports, he said, “I’m ready to be myself”, and came out as gay.

Jake’s announcement that he was gay caused a sensation, as he was the first male footballer to do so since Justin Fashanu in 1990. Fashanu suffered abuse from crowds, intrusive media coverage and cruelty off the pitch. Tragically, he took his own life in 1998, and since then, no other male footballer has admitted to being gay.

Fortunately, society has changed since Fashanu’s day and football has also taken steps to deal better with discrimination. Many clubs now actively embrace campaigns such as Rainbow Laces.

With that weight off his shoulders, Jake is playing better than ever. And with the support he has received, he is ready to show the world just how great a footballer he is, as well as being a positive role model for others.