A FEW years ago, I made the decision to come out as gay.

I was already an adult with two children and, having grown up in Barnsley, I had always hidden that part of myself.

At 34, I went through a bit of a breakdown and realised I couldn’t continue living a life that wasn’t true to who I was. Which, with a wife, was a shock to say the least.

I’ve always been passionate about community work, whether in Barnsley or West Yorkshire, and when I finally embraced my identity, it made perfect sense to channel that passion into something meaningful.

That led me to get involved in the LGBTQ+ Forum and Pride. It was an absolute no-brainer for me.

For us, it’s all about building bridges and creating access points into places like football clubs and sport in general – places where LGBTQ+ people can feel comfortable, supported, and validated.

Unfortunately, even now, we still struggle with visibility.

As LGBTQ+ individuals, we often don’t feel recognised or noticed.

That’s why initiatives like this weekend’s EFL-wide campaign (using rainbow balls as part of LGBTQ+ History Month) are so important.

It’s not just about Barnsley – every single one of the 72 EFL clubs will be playing with this special ball.

For someone like me, from a little town like Barnsley, that is a massive, massive thing.

It’s not just about football itself: it’s about the culture that surrounds it.

There’s still this stigma that keeps people in the closet because football remains a very heterosexual sport—especially in the men’s game.

That stigma is still a huge barrier.

As someone who used to be a referee and a footballer, I know first-hand that I would never have dared to come out while I was playing or officiating.

Definitely not.

But look at how far we’ve come.

The progress we’ve made in recent years is just brilliant.

For me, it’s all about creating a comfortable environment.

Once people have built their relationships, comfort becomes natural.

You start to open up, to trust, and to feel secure in who you are.

That’s what we need in every football changing room across the country. Sexuality shouldn’t matter.

It doesn’t make us any different – we all bleed red, and we all love football.

So what difference does it make if we are gay or straight?

The key is making sure people feel safe enough to be their true selves.

Let’s hope the Reds can get a win this Saturday.