Jake Daniels one year on: 'I'm proud of football's response'

Jake Daniels says he’s proud of how the stigma round soccer has modified a year on because the Blackpool ahead turned the UK’s first lively male skilled footballer to come back out publicly as homosexual.

Daniels was simply 17 when he informed his story to Sky Sports News, with Justin Fashanu the final male skilled footballer to come back out publicly as homosexual within the UK again in 1990.

He by no means imagined the constructive response he would get. Harry Kane, Gary Neville and Prince William – to call only a few – had been amongst those that applauded his braveness in an outpouring of help on social media within the days that adopted.

Now, 12 months on, he tells Sky Sports News folks nonetheless proceed to succeed in out to him and he’s proud to have the ability to be a task mannequin to others.

“It was such a surreal experience,” mentioned Daniels. “I can not imagine it has been a year already as a result of it has gone so fast.

“It’s been superb. It’s been higher than I anticipated if I’m fully sincere. I’ve simply had positivity all over the place and it is introduced me nearer to so many individuals.

“I couldn’t have asked for it to go any better for myself.”

‘For me to slot in as myself was superb’

Blackpool ahead Jake Daniels on how the dressing room reacted to him popping out:

“I didn’t count on them to react how they did.

“When I did inform them, all of them began clapping and telling me how proud they had been of me and, as a staff, we all the time need to be collectively and have that bond, and it introduced everybody nearer collectively.

“For me to actually fit in with them as my actual self, it was just so amazing for me to be able to do that.”

He added: “So many people have reached out.

“For the primary two or three weeks my agent took over my Instagram, so I did not see lots of the feedback, however nonetheless now I get mother and father of youngsters, the youngsters themselves, older folks and youthful folks all saying how lengthy they’ve needed to dwell their lives a lie they usually’ve been capable of come out as a result of of one thing I’ve accomplished.

“It’s such a warm, proud moment for me. For me to do that and come out and then for someone else to be able to do that, it’s a proud moment.”

“Yes, 100 per cent [I feel like a role model],” he added.

“People are still messaging me now and stopping me on the street, and I am that role model for people.

“It’s a proud second to have the ability to assist different folks of their lives.”

When asked if we are any further forward in ending the stigma of being gay in football, he replied: “I feel we’re. Since I’ve come on the market have been referees and we have had Zander [Murray] over in Scotland who has come out.

“It has kind of got the ball rolling a bit more and I am hopeful that maybe next year or the year after we’ll have a top-flight Premier League footballer who is able to come out and live his life as an active UK footballer.”

‘Being myself is the most effective factor I coul dhave ever requested for’

Blackpool ahead Jake Daniels on having the ability to be himself for the primary time:

“I wouldn’t have ever anticipated it to occur.
The quantity of confidence I’ve and when folks say it’s an actual weight off your shoulders, that saying is true.

“I remember the first time I told my mum, I was dancing around the room. I was joyful and this has been the best part of my life. Being able to live truly as myself has been the best thing I could have ever asked for.”

‘You cannot drive it’ | Daniels understands why no Premier League gamers have come out

At the time of his announcement a year in the past, Daniels mentioned he hoped to turn out to be a task mannequin for different gamers to really feel comfy sufficient to come back out, in the event that they wished to, and whereas there have been examples, with Getafe midfielder Jakub Jankto, who’s on mortgage at Sparta Prague, and Adelaide United defender Josh Cavallo each additionally popping out, no Premier League participant has adopted swimsuit but.

Daniels is shocked however not disenchanted that no top-flight footballers in England have come out since he informed his story.

“Since I’ve come out there has been rumours of Premier League footballers who might be coming out but you can’t force someone to come out,” he mentioned.

“If they want to come out, then they will. You can’t force it, but hopefully there is that courage to come out because we need that group to keep getting larger so it can just move on in football and it can become the norm.”

When requested if any footballers have gotten in contact privately for assist, and in the event that they did what can be his recommendation, he added: “Sadly not, but I am hoping someone does because I am probably the only person with that full guidance, and I can give them it.

“For me, if I noticed that message, it might be a proud second and possibly a teary second to be fully sincere.

“The best thing I ever did was speak out and it will be difficult.

“It was my life lie and it was troublesome to talk out, however the most effective factor I did was communicate to somebody and I used to be capable of come out totally then.

“Obviously, it’s up to you. You can’t feel pressured. It’s if you are feeling right and want to come out.

“Don’t really feel pressured and communicate to folks, it is the most effective factor I ever did.”

Daniels on social media: ‘Negative responses do not have an effect on me anymore’

Blackpool ahead Jake Daniels on coping with the social media response to him popping out:

“On social media, it’s a troublesome one. People can simply conceal behind a display or a keyboard and say what they need.

“However, there are all the time 10,000 constructive messages and simply one destructive remark , however you simply give attention to it and it stays in your thoughts.

“For me, the primary few weeks had been troublesome, however I feel the one factor I can do now’s chortle at it and say I’m a footballer, I’ve been capable of come out and do what I’ve wished to do for my entire total life.
So, it doesn’t actually have an effect on me a lot anymore.”

‘It’s time to kick on’ – Daniels goals for the primary staff

Daniels’ announcement got here on the finish of a season through which he scored greater than 30 targets and made his skilled debut within the Championship.

However, the 18-year-old admitted the year that adopted was extraordinarily troublesome for him and his soccer took a again seat this season.

A break from the sport appears to have rejuvenated Daniels, who says he is able to kick on and make an impression once more subsequent season.

He mentioned: “It’s been troublesome popping out and being 17. It was quite a bit for me to regulate to.

“In regards to being a footballer, I had some time off mentally and I’ve just been trying to work on myself.

“I did not return in the most effective health however now, after a year, it is time for me to kick on, return into pre-season and work as onerous as I can.

“And with Blackpool, we might get a new manager, maybe somebody who likes to play the youngsters and bring them through.

“It’s then my alternative to kick on and get into the primary staff.”