TeamPride statement on Jake Daniels coming out

Today, Jake Daniels of Blackpool FC took the brave decision to come out as the first openly gay footballer to play in the English Football League in nearly 30 years.

English football is ready for this moment. And we believe it has been ready for some time. Societal attitudes and understanding towards LGBTQ+ people have improved immeasurably in the past few decades, and we can now all take pride in living in a country where the majority of people share our vision of a world where everyone is free to be ourselves.

Today’s news 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.

As members of TeamPride, we are proud to support Jake as he embarks on what we are sure will be an exciting career - and we are delighted that he will be able to do so as his true self.

Signed by:

• Adidas
• Barclays
• Premier League
• Sky Sports
• TikTok
• Unilever
• Voltarol