FA told to help gay footballers feel accepted as 'brave' Jake Daniels praised

The 17-year-old became the first professional in the UK men's game for more than 30 years to come out, putting out a statement via his club's website on Monday.

"I've known my whole life that I'm gay," the youngster wrote. "And I now feel that I'm ready to come out and be myself."

Daniels continued to explain that whilst coming out as a footballer is tough, it's the bravery of others to speak out about their sexual orientation that ultimately led to him feeling as though he could announce his.

One of Daniels' inspirations, Matt Morton of Norfolk-based Thetford Town FC of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division, also came out as gay back in 2019.

After fearing the worst as he prepared to come out to his teammates via their WhatsApp group chat, Morton was instead met with a flood of support from his team.

Morton was later promoted to the position of player-manager at his club, demonstrating that football really is for everyone, no matter your sexuality.

Morton, who was the highest-playing openly gay footballer in the country until Daniels' announcement, spoke to talkSPORT Drive after the Championship star cited him as a role model.

And the non-league boss believes gay footballers coming out will aid in stomping out abuse that still exists in the sport, with coming out stories such as his and Daniels' making others consider their words and actions.

"Obviously you get the odd thing but I can honestly say, hand on heart, since I came out I haven't had a single instance at home or from an away fan or a player - nothing," Morton told Andy Goldstein and Andy Townsend on Monday.

"It's actually more like there was more homophobic abuse aimed at my direction in games I was taking part in prior to me coming out, because it's a subconscious thing.

"Unfortunately part of the problem is people will throw about insults saying 'you're gay, you're this, you're that', without genuinely meaning to be homophobic. It's more of a way of getting under the opponent's skin.

"It's language that people have been used to using since the school playground, so it just becomes second nature. Now that I've come out, anyone that's involved in a fixture I'm involved in, they're conscious of that.

"They know they're playing on the same field as or watching a game with someone who is openly gay, so I think it makes them realise they can't use that language because it would cause actual intended offence."

But while Morton believes his own, Daniels' and others' stories will make a difference, the Thetford manager stated football's governing bodies still need to do more to ensure footballers feel comfortable being open about their sexuality.

"Unfortunately there's so many things [to do], and I think Jake's coming out will draw more publicity to this, but there are so many levels where you need to affect behaviour change - grassroots, national, what could the FA be doing, what could clubs be doing?

"Then you've got international levels. For example, we're all getting ready for an amazing World Cup experience, but it's being held in a country where homosexuality is outlawed.

"Is that right?"

Later, Laura Woods echoed Morton's joy in Daniels feeling he can be open about his sexuality, stating it has set a very important example in the football industry given homophobia still exists within the game - something her family have witnessed themselves.

"I just think it's beyond his years brave what Jake [Daniels] is doing at the moment." Woods said on Tuesday's talkSPORT Breakfast.

"What is really unfathomable for people who perhaps aren't gay in this particular arena is how different you can be made to feel.

"I remember my Dad was at a Newcastle game and me and my brothers bought my Dad a scarf, a multi-coloured scarf, and my uncle is gay.

"And my Dad was going from bar to bar with his mates and he said about the amount of people that were picking on him because he was wearing a rainbow scarf around his neck.

"He said it felt quite intimidating. And that's from wearing a scarf, and he said it was a real eye opener."

She added: "Football is a different realm in its own right and to do something like this [what Daniels is doing], this is why we're calling it brave, and at 17-years-old that is just mega."