'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
In 2022, Blackpool star Jake Daniels came out as the first openly gay English professional football in 32 years. The 18-year-old has now revealed how he met his 46-year-old partner Mark.
Daniels said that he received a ton of Instagram messages after coming out. His interaction with his now partner started through DMs. Speaking on Rylan's How to be a Man podcast, Daniels said (via Daily Star):
“I came out and had my Instagram, my Twitter taken off me, so I didn’t see anything. When I had my Instagram back, I had 20,000 message requests or something ridiculous like that. I’d never seen that in my life."
He added:
“There was one day. I was about to get on a train, and I went on my message requests just to have a gander, and the top message was from my (now) partner, just congratulating me."
Daniels continued:
“I had a sneaky look at his Instagram, and I was like, ‘Alright!’ Dropped a message back and said, ‘Thank you so much,’ and at the end asked something like ‘Is there anything else I can do for you?’ I knew what my motive was."
He concluded:
"We got chatting from then, I think we FaceTimed that night, met up a few days later in Blackpool, and we’ve been together ever since. High-flying, defo my soulmate. Couldn't be any more happy."
When did Blackpool's Jake Daniels come out as gay?
Blackpool's Jake Daniels announced his sexual orientation last year around this time. He was only 17 at that time. He joined Josh Cavallo as few of the openly gay players.
Daniels' action earned plaudits. The athlete, who is sponsored by Adidas, was even praised by former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Daniels said (via Daily Star):
"Now is the right time to do it. I feel like I am ready to tell people my story. I want people to know the real me."
He added:
"I have been thinking for a long time about how I want to do it, when I want to do it. I know now is the time. I am ready to be myself, be free and be confident with it all."
Jake Daniels plays as a forward for Blackpool. The English club are competing in the EFL championship, where they're 23rd in the standings.
