Maldon & Tiptree co-owner Barrie Drewitt-Barlow said he wants to play a part in helping gay and bisexual players find acceptance within men's football. There are no openly gay players in the top four divisions of English football, and although former Blackpool forward Jake Daniels came out in 2022, he is currently without a club, having been released at the end of last season. "In terms of the local people around us we couldn't be more thankful for the reception we've had," he told BBC Essex. "[But] we're always going to get those people online who are homophobic and all of that. "There's no wonder to me why a lot of footballers don't want to come out as being gay, or bi, or whatever, because they're just scared they're going to get such a negative reaction."

Source: BBC January 31, 2026 06:25 UTC