Blackpool's Jake Daniels becomes UK's first active openly gay male footballer in 32 years

Blackpool's Jake Daniels has become the first active openly gay professional male footballer in the UK after coming out publicly and making an announcement on Monday.

The 17-year-old recently signed a professional contract with the Championship team and made his club debut earlier this month.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Daniels said he hopes that he can become a role model for others and hopes there will be a gay Premier League footballer in the future.

READ: 17 LGBTQ+ athletes share their coming out journeys

«Of course I am aware that there will be a reaction to this and some of it will be homophobic, maybe in a stadium and on social media,» he said.

«It's an easy thing for people to target. The way I see it is that I am playing football and they are shouting stuff at me, but they are paying to watch me play football and I am living my life and making money from it. So shout what you want, it's not going to make a difference.

»I won't stop people from saying that stuff, I just need to learn how to not let it affect me. I am hoping that by coming out, I can be a role model, to help others come out if they want to.

«I am only 17 but I am clear that this is what I want to do and if, by me coming out, other people look at me and feel maybe they can do it as well, that would be brilliant.»

Justin Fashanu became the first openly gay male British footballer in 1990 but took his own life at the age of 37, eight years after coming out publicly to the press.

Since Fashanu, there has not been a single male player to publicly come out during their playing career. Former Aston Villa star Thomas Hitzlsperger and ex-Hull City youngster Thomas Beattie revealed their sexuality after retirement.

In March, United States women's international