In late 2021, Adelaide United player Josh Cavallo came out as gay. This made him the only professional footballer in current top-flight football to do this.

He posted on his social media platforms: “I am proud to publicly announce that I am gay. It’s been a journey to get to this point in my life, but I couldn’t be happier with my decision to come out.

“Being a gay closeted footballer, I’ve had to learn to mask my feelings in order to fit the mould of a professional footballer. I’ve lived my life assuming that this was a topic never to be spoken about.

“As the game of football keeps expanding, I want to help evolve the game even further, and let other players in my situation feel that they’re not alone.”

Cavallo’s brave and inspiring announcement was lauded by many current and former professional footballers from around the world. The likes of Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford showed their support for the young Australian.

A Melbourne City supporter shows their support for Cavallo

We have seen an increasing number of groups being created to give more support to those a part of the LGBTQ+ community. An example of this is the Gay Football Supporters Network (GFSN).

The GFSN is a British based organisation created as a hub for LGBTQ+ football fans to socialise with other individuals.

Since their inception, they have also created the GFSN League which lets LGBTQ+ football clubs in the UK compete against each other.

Mike Kalogerou, chairman of the GFSN and a player for Leicester Wildecats, discussed the organisation and the origins of how it all first started.

He said: “Originally, it started in the late ‘90s so we’ve been going now for the best part of 31-32 years. Fundamentally, it was about a collection of friends with one common interest. To watch football and be a football supporter but also be openly gay in the process.

“Over the years, that has grown from just individual supporters to now the GFSN being the biggest LGBTQ+ football league in the world.”

Interestingly enough, Mike felt that he wished that the GFSN didn’t exist at all. However, the reasoning behind it highlights why there isn’t many high-profile players coming out.

He said: “Lets take sexuality or gender identity, you might not be able to tell instantly, by looking at somebody, where they sit in that spectrum. Also, if you take race for example, the amount of disgraceful racial abuse that was targeted after the Euros.

“You know racism in the game is an ongoing battle. With players taking the knee and protesting, there’s no time for prejudice.

“The GFSN will always be there whilst there’s prejudice happening against our membership and until society wakes up to say, ‘actually no, we won’t tolerate this in the game’.”

The organisation has helped many people from different backgrounds interact with each other and has been an excellent initiative.

Discussing what he feels is the biggest moment of the GFSN so far, he said: “The GFSN have a get together every year so that includes the players and non-players.

“We had it in Blackpool last year and it was the first get together that I had arranged and planned myself. We managed to get a massive corporate sponsor and they were able to back the event.

“Just under 400 members attended the event and it was phenomenal. In terms of feedback, it was one of the best events the GFSN has put on.

“On the Friday night in particular, we had a football shirt night and the reason why we do that is to celebrate those humble beginnings of that originally we were all football fans and not so much players.”

With the news of Josh Cavallo's announcement breaking, Mike is still unsure if the UK is ready for its first gay player but we are edging closer.

He said: “You’re never going to get 100% of people that are happy and comfortable with a gay player and part of that is down to awareness and culture.

“It’s a bold statement to say, ‘Is the UK ready?’. I think in time people will come round to the idea. The more players we have, the more it becomes normalised and that’s important.

“In my opinion, Are we ready for it? I don’t know. However, we continue to campaign, we continue to fly the flag proud and we support one another.”

There are many LGBTQ+ football clubs across the UK, ranging from teams based in London all the way to Glasgow.

However, one side stands out as being the first LGBTQ+ football club in the UK and that is Edinburgh based HotScots FC.

Starting all the way back in 2007, the main aim of the club has been to welcome people with a passion for football, irrespective of their gender, sexuality, religion or nationality.

Craig Anderson, the club’s treasurer, discussed the how the club first came about and what the inspiration behind it was.

He said: “It was started by our founder Kev who had played for a couple of LGBT football teams back in England. He played down in Yorkshire and he moved to Edinburgh and he decided he wanted to put a club together here.

“Similar to a lot of clubs down south, the inspiration was to provide footballing opportunities for LGBT people who otherwise may not be able to have the chance to engage in it.”

Speaking about some of the clubs most memorable moments, Craig mentioned about how the club has appeared in many tournaments across the world.

He said: “Before covid, we played the equivalent of the LGBT World Cup in Paris. Going in representing Scotland at these tournaments where there’s teams from all over the world.

“There was an opening ceremony at the Stade de France so we were able to walk round the stadium with the Scottish banners. It’s a really good experience just the scale of it and it was impressive.

“When you’re playing teams like Argentina in 35 degree heat, the Scottish lads are sweating thinking, ‘Oh my god’ and the other team is running about like it’s normal. Just the whole atmosphere was amazing and it was a huge event.”

Like many others, Craig believes that Josh Cavallo’s announcement has been great for football and will inspire many male footballers to come out in the UK.

However, there are certain aspects that will appear should more players come out.

He said: “There will be a lot of support if someone was to come out but there will still be trolls about. I think the biggest thing, particularly for the first one or two to come out, is the amount of media attention.

“Depending on the person, if it’s an 18–19-year-old at the beginning of their career, do they want to have that much focus on their personal life? It would be pretty overwhelming. That’s why many do it at the end of their career.

“I think we’re in a position now that it would be more accepted and it would have a better response than it’s ever been which is a good thing.”

Over the years, we have also seen the representation of the LGBTQ+ community in the media increasing as well which is a huge step for not just football but sports in general.

Sky Sports News reporter Mark McAdam has been on our screens for more than a decade. Whether it was updating us on a certain football match or standing outside a clubs training ground on transfer deadline day, he has been a well-known figure of the news outlet.

Discussing on what inspired him to become a reporter, he said: “I was inspired more so through my love of the media than sport itself. Journalism gives you the best seat in the house when it comes to covering live sporting events.

“There’s always that unknown nature about live sport and that’s what makes it so dramatic and exciting. I’ve always had this passion and enthusiasm for it and as I got older, opportunities just presented themselves to me and I just took them.”

In 2014, Mark made the decision to come out publicly. On why he thought that was the best time to come out, he said: “I felt ready to come out and talk about who I was, talk about my sexuality. I didn’t care what people thought anymore.

“I took a lot longer to come out, I was really uncomfortable with my sexuality growing up. I was bullied quite heavily at school growing up so I never really wanted to be gay, I didn’t want to talk about being gay. It was something I hid.

“It was when I got a bit older and I started to understand it and accept it.”

Mark is often seen on Sky Sports when he is reporting on Soccer Saturday, Sky’s afternoon programme showcasing all the 3pm scores from across the UK.

The show has been known for its memorable moments and one of the standouts was when Mark was reporting from Valley Parade - the stadium of Charlton Athletic - and was assisted by comedian Tom Allen.

Mark discussed how that day was able to come about and what he thought of the reaction of people sitting at home watching.

He said: “Tom Allen is the funniest person in the world and could go to a funeral and make everyone smile.

“So, I spoke to him and asked how he feel about doing Soccer Saturday with me and talking about the game and he said absolutely.

“Soccer Saturday is a serious production. It’s about winning and losing so we were a little bit cautious of doing it.

“Obviously with the game being high scoring, we were constantly popping up on the programme with score updates and there’s that magical moment where a goal goes in whilst we were on-air.

“What you had there were two gay men. Tom Allen with no football experience enjoying the game and me, a gay man, watching football and enjoying it my own way. That was the great thing about it and it was such an iconic symbol. Two gay men who enjoyed the match.”

With the many campaigns and events being organised in order to support the LGBTQ+ community, it can be highlighted that football is doing more work than ever to help this cause and it is definitely helping the situation of more male professional footballers coming out.

Mark discussed where he feels the UK is at right now and whether he feels now is the time for a UK based footballer to come out.

He said: “We’re closer than we’ve ever have been. It’s not about coming out. The person coming out will have to be for the rest of their career ‘the gay footballer’.

“Every time there’s a rainbow laces campaign, every time there’s an incident of homophobia. That player will be contacted to ask for their advice and thought process on it.

“Do I think dressing rooms will be accepting? Yes. Do I think football clubs will be accepting? Yes.

“You just hope that all the campaigns are making a big difference so that eventually someone will come out to be themselves.”

Football is a beautiful thing. In the words of Pele, it’s the “beautiful game”. With events like women's football gaining more attention, football is becoming increasingly more inclusive.

It doesn’t matter what gender you recognise as or what religion you follow, football is a sport for everyone and anyone. The various supporters clubs around the world brings fans from all walks of life to celebrate the same passion.

So, if fans are allowed to have this passion, why can’t players be in the same boat?

Josh Cavallo has demonstrated that the footballing world is behind all players that are part of the LGBTQ+ community and the progress of more players hopefully coming out is looking even more optimistic.

Keep the Pride Flag Flying High