Well Done Jake Daniels

AFKABartram

17yr old young pro at Blackpool, first professional footballer to come out as gay since Fashunu.

Incredibly brave thing for a kid to do at the start of his career.  I expect the reaction to be overwhelmingly positive and it will be interesting whether his courage will provide the inspiration to others in the game. 

AFKABartram

@cafctom said: Great courage and maturity for a lad aged only 17.

Still can’t get my head around the fact that it took over 30 years tor this to happen. 

Elthamaddick

well done lad, huge amount of courage to do that.

good luck to him

AFKABartram

https://news.sky.com/story/jake-daniels-blackpool-footballer-17-comes-out-as-gay-becoming-only-openly-gay-male-professional-footballer-in-britain-12614598

Dizzle

Fair play to the lad. Good luck to him

Addick Addict

Although you were beaten by me @AFKABartram to this (even used the same title and my lawyers have been watching) happy for you to close the thread started by me down. No one reads anything I say anyway!

The Red Robin

Good lad. I coach lads this age and they are a breath of fresh air when it comes to how inclusive and supportive they are of each other. 

cafcfan1990

It is incredibly brave but being 17 could be a positive. I might be overestimate UK footie fans but feel they’re much less likely to give ‘banter’ or stick to a 17 year old than someone who is 25/26. Of course it’s not acceptable either way but we all know it’s going to happen. Just really hope this can change things going forward. 

sam3110

He's got a lot of bottle, and must be made of strong stuff! Just hope he can remain in strong spirits if any negativity comes his way. I raise a toast to him though

The Red Robin

cafcfan1990 said:

It is incredibly brave but being 17 could be a positive. I might be overestimate UK footie fans but feel they’re much less likely to give ‘banter’ or stick to a 17 year old than someone who is 25/26. Of course it’s not acceptable either way but we all know it’s going to happen. Just really hope this can change things going forward. 

Just gotta clamp down on it. Treat it the same as racism. Lifetime ban. 

ISawLeaburnScore

Fantastic courage for someone so young and only at the start of their career. Hopefully a very important step to acceptance of all characteristics and beliefs in football in this country and beyond.

bobmunro

I would like to think we've moved on sufficiently for Jake not to receive abuse from the terraces, rather he be cheered and applauded for his courage.

Seems completely alien to have to talk about courage in this scenario - but nevertheless it's a brave thing to do.

Very best wishes, Jake, for a long and successful career.

ForeverAddickted

Brave lad... Shame though he has to be applauded for these actions in 2022.

Hopefully it wont be long before its seen as completely normal news

Leroy Ambrose

Wait for it...

Dizzle

ForeverAddickted said:

Brave lad... Shame though he has to be applauded for these actions in 2022.

Hopefully it wont be long before its seen as completely normal news

Or not newsworthy at all really

KBslittlesis

I really hope this is the start of it just becoming an non issue.
I am like Smudge in that I still can’t believe in this day and age it’s still a big thing.

I wish the lad huge success in life and love ❤️ 

cafcfan1990

The Red Robin said:

cafcfan1990 said:

It is incredibly brave but being 17 could be a positive. I might be overestimate UK footie fans but feel they’re much less likely to give ‘banter’ or stick to a 17 year old than someone who is 25/26. Of course it’s not acceptable either way but we all know it’s going to happen. Just really hope this can change things going forward. 

Just gotta clamp down on it. Treat it the same as racism. Lifetime ban. 

Absolutely 

shirty5

Was only a matter of time before a footballer came out and said he was gay. 

Both codes of Rugby and Cricket have many gay sportsman in their codes and no one batters an eye to it now. 

Leuth

Steve Davies has been getting on with it at Somerset for a good ten years since he came out. Here's to getting on with the game. 

ForeverAddickted

cafcfan1990 said:

It is incredibly brave but being 17 could be a positive. I might be overestimate UK footie fans but feel they’re much less likely to give ‘banter’ or stick to a 17 year old than someone who is 25/26. Of course it’s not acceptable either way but we all know it’s going to happen. Just really hope this can change things going forward. 

People will probably forget that he's a Gay Footballer in a few years time.

If he was 25/26 and a seasoned professional, then there is the unfortunate risk of it being remembered come the start of next season, and he'll get "bantaaaa" thrown at him from the beginning.

MuttleyCAFC

Well done to him, being the first is the hardest, and now it is up to fans to do the right thing to help others follow. 

Gary Poole

Good for him. It’s quite sad that this is even a story in 2022 and shows how football still lags behind in some areas. I am optimistic he will receive a largely supportive response which will encourage others to not feel the need to keep their sexuality secret. 

Chizz

https://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/2022/may/16/a-message-from-jake-daniels/ 

Good luck to Jake and the many more people who will have the courage to live their real lives. 

JamesSeed

Hopefully there will be more to follow. It really shouldn’t be a big deal, but very brave of the lad, at only 17. 

stonemuse

Good for him 

cafctom

Jake’s decision to do this is a big step to helping players in future hopefully come out without the same level of anxiety or feeling of walking into the unknown.

So when people say “it shouldn’t be a story”, well thanks to Jake there’s a good chance it won’t be anywhere near as much of a story in future. 

Somebody had to take that responsibility and the fact he is doing it, at 17, is immense. 

Addickhead86

Spoke with a clarity and honesty that belied his age. A big moment that will open possibilities for a lot of people who may have been struggling in this sport and beyond. Congratulations, Jake.

siblers

Watched his interview, spoke like a 30 year old. Fair play to him

BR7_addick

Well played to the lad took some guts that when you consider the toxic environment of online etc these days.

cfgs

Everyone has the right to be themself and not to hide who they are.

Addick Addict

Leuth said:

Steve Davies has been getting on with it at Somerset for a good ten years since he came out. Here's to getting on with the game. 

Davies has but not one other male pro has felt assured enough to follow suit and it is 11 years since he came out. I know of an England cricket  international who is gay but who doesn't feel he can publicly come out and who has even felt the need to have a "girlfriend" on his arm in order to quash any such rumours. Women have been far more comfortable in doing so but, as Lauren Winfield-Hill, who married her girlfriend, Courtney, says “We’ve been in those countries and had partners come out and we’re on red alert. We wouldn’t hold hands in the street or in the stands. We’re not the most PDA [public displays of affection] group, and we’re careful not to offend. We’re tight as tight with England. It’s our safe place, we’re completely ourselves, we speak at a deeper level." 

"We're careful not to offend" Why should she and her wife have to be in fear of offending? Somerset is accepting of Davies but that county and even England is just a very small part of a cricketer who is an international or who plays for various franchises. What would happen if he was seen to be holding the hand of his partner or husband in say Pakistan? Pakistan is one of the least accepting of homosexuality with 87% of those surveyed saying "Homosexuality should not be accepted by society". I'm not sure how I would feel if I were gay and had publicly announced as much, playing in Pakistan. Or, in terms of football, what about the player in the same position at this year's World Cup? The Qataris are making the right noises but would you run the risk in finding out?

As I've said already, Jake Daniels is incredibly brave to do come out and I really do hope that he has a fantastic career. I also hope that he not only gets the support of everyone here but that the likes of FIFA and Governments stand up and be counted should the Qataris opt to take action against a player or supporter who doesn't happen to fit in with their culture or religion. Because the issue isn't just the random idiot on the terraces or the opposite number whispering in his ear some cheap shot. What we take for granted so far as acceptance is concerned is not, unfortunately, the experience of those on the receiving end of such abuse or even punishment by Law.

So, no we shouldn't be talking about this as a big event in 2022. But to pretend that it's something that doesn't need to be is, perhaps, not looking at the full picture.