‘I was in a bubble’: Jake Daniels talks to Michael Gunning about being an out gay footballer

Published by Jon Holmes on

Blackpool striker Jake Daniels features in ‘Beneath the Surface’, a new short documentary film that has premiered on Sky Sports; it’s presenter Michael Gunning’s debut as a director-producer, as part of the New Focus Fund project; Jake shared his coming out story in 2022; watch below on YouTube…

By Jon Holmes

Jake Daniels and Michael Gunning at Blackpool’s Bloomfield Road stadium (image: Sky Sports)

Coming out publicly as gay in men’s professional football led Jake Daniels to feel like he was “in a bubble” at times, the striker has revealed.

Blackpool teenager Daniels reflects on his journey in the game so far in a new short documentary film titled ‘Beneath the Surface’, which had its premiere on Sky Sports Football on 28 October.

The film is presented, directed and produced by Michael Gunning, the former Great Britain and Jamaica international swimmer, as part of Sky Sports’ New Focus Fund project.

Gunning travelled to the Lancashire seaside town to spend time with Daniels and learn more about the unique journey that the player has been on since sharing his personal news with the world in May 2022.

Jake’s decision to go public made him the first out professional active in the men’s game in Britain for over 30 years. Gunning’s debut documentary showcases the 19-year-old in a new light, allowing audiences to get to know him beyond the moniker of the ‘gay footballer’.

Filming locations include the Pleasure Beach, Blackpool Tower and Bloomfield Road Stadium.

In the documentary, Gunning asks Jake to look back on the last two seasons. The young forward hasn’t made a first-team appearance for Blackpool since sharing his news but was handed a new one-year deal at the League One club in the summer.

“Since coming out, there have been times when things weren’t going quite right,” says Daniels.

“It was a completely different experience and I was in a bubble, but I made sure this year I really
focused on football and it’s really made a difference.

“I got my confidence back, I’ve done well and it’s given me an opportunity to have another year at Blackpool.”

The striker scored several goals during a loan spell at Bradford Park Avenue towards the end of the 2023/4 campaign.

He recently joined Warrington Rylands, another club in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, and it has just been announced that his stay there will be extended for three more months.

At the moment, Daniels is one of just five pro players anywhere in the world who are out as gay or bi in the men’s game. The other footballers are Australian duo Josh Cavallo and Andy Brennan, Czech Republic winger Jakub Jankto, and the American midfielder Collin Martin.

In wider men’s pro team sports, there is still barely any visible representation for LGBTQ+ people, whether on the playing, coaching or officiating sides, or in administrative roles. Gunning asks Daniels for his thoughts on that.

“Why is it different in men’s sport to come out? I put it down to football being a masculine sport as you’re seen as ‘you’ve got to be strong’, but people think being gay is ‘you’re weak’.”

Also in the episode, Gunning discusses his own experiences of discrimination in sport and how they affected him. He also shows the importance of venturing outside your comfort zone when he gets his boots on for a skills and drills session with Daniels at Squires Gate, Blackpool’s training ground.

Gunning says: “I haven’t played football in over 20 years as it’s always been a sport that’s scared me due to discrimination.

“In 2021, I attended the Men’s Euros Final at Wembley and was stunned and disappointed at the abuse and racism that was shouted at the players when England didn’t win. This behaviour should never be acceptable.

“I loved having honest conversations with Jake in his hometown. As a gay professional football player, he’s a pioneer for inclusivity and I’m looking forward to more people following his journey.”

Via the New Focus Fund, Gunning took part in a series of workshops run by Sky Sports and some of their partners, including but not limited to Arsenal Football Club and YouTube.

The fund was created in 2023, working to tackle racial injustice, remove barriers and provide opportunities for creative talent in the industry.

“Since retiring from swimming, I’ve been lucky enough to try lots of different things, but it’s been hard breaking into the TV industry,” added Gunning.

“I wanted to create a piece of original content like nothing else that’s out there. It’s been a dream to work with Sky Sports to direct and produce my own documentary, and to host the whole thing is a bonus.

“I’m so excited to share it with the world and hopefully inspire people to step out of their comfort zones and try new things.”

For Daniels, the project represents an opportunity for football fans to spend a half hour in his company and get to know the real Jake.

“People only really know me now as the gay footballer, so it’s about me showing myself on the pitch, and proving to people I am the footballer I want to be.”

Watch ‘Beneath the Surface’ now on the Sky Sports YouTube channel.


Jon Holmes

Digital Sports Editor