Jake Daniels Opens Up About Life As An Out Footballer In A New Documentary
Jake Daniels, Blackpool FC’s rising star, sits down with Michael Gunning in a new Sky Sports documentary, Beneath The Surface. The series, which kicks off on 28 October, highlights the challenges faced by athletes who break the mould.
“People see me as the gay footballer now”
Daniels, who came out at 17, talks about the pressure he feels to prove himself on the field. “It’s about showing I’m a good footballer,” he says. “I want to prove I’m the player I aim to be.”
The young athlete also tackles the stereotypes in football. “Some think being gay makes you weak,” Daniels notes. “But it doesn’t change how I play.”
“I want to be an advocate”
Daniels isn’t just focused on his game. He’s also keen to make a difference off the pitch. “I want to be an advocate for the community, in football and beyond,” he shares.
The documentary, produced and directed by former swimmer Michael Gunning, doesn’t shy away from tough topics. It looks at how sports deal with identity and discrimination.
In a touching moment, Daniels’ mum opens up about her experience. She admits feeling lonely at times, trying to be the “strong, supporting mother”.
Gunning, who faced his own hurdles as a swimmer, says he wants to show how diverse sports can be. “I was told Black people sink in water,” he recalls. “Now I’m proving those myths wrong.”
Why is it different for men to come out in sports?
Daniels ponders this question in the documentary. He thinks it’s because football is seen as a “masculine” sport. But he’s determined to change that view.
Beneath The Surface is part of a new series from Sky Sports. It aims to give a platform to diverse voices in sport, tackling issues of inclusion and the pressure of being a trailblazer.
