Zander Murray has develop into the primary present skilled footballer in Scotland to return out as homosexual. The Gala Fairydean Rovers ahead spoke about popping out in an interview revealed on the Lowland League membership’s web site on Friday.
The 30-year-old has stated he “seems like the burden of the world is now off my shoulders” after popping out. Murray is the primary overtly homosexual footballer to play within the Scottish leagues since Justin Fashanu, who performed for Hearts within the 1993-94 season.
“I need to assist different gamers who’re combating this because it isn’t straightforward for males, particularly footballers, to cope with,” Murray stated. “It may be troublesome and you may really feel very alone. I knew I used to be completely different for a few years however with different folks within the recreation popping out, it’s been wonderful.”
“Lately [the Blackpool forward] Jake Daniels has come out, after which Craig Napier and Lloyd Wilson, who’re each referees, have performed the identical,” Murray added. “Earlier than popping out you suppose folks will flip in opposition to you and also you suppose the worst. It’s been pretty how a lot assist I’ve had.”
Murray additionally known as for extra assist to assist homosexual footballers within the males’s recreation, including that he would decline being tagged in social media posts in an effort to cover his sexuality, due to his profession as knowledgeable footballer.
“I used to be on vacation just lately at a Delight occasion, and I’ve all the time been that closeted by no means to go to those issues however I beloved it,” he stated. “The vibe was good and everybody was simply being free and comfortable, and it was nice to simply be me.
“Then I believed to myself: what am I doing? That is enjoying havoc with my life. At that second, I believed sufficient is sufficient. I put a publish on my social media telling people I used to be homosexual.
“I didn’t want to take a seat the boys down within the altering room and inform them, [but] the lads on the membership have been so supportive,” added Murray, who holds the membership report for many targets scored in a single season. “I’ve a very sturdy bond with everybody on the membership and I’ve been blown away by the assist.”
“I’ve performed numerous analysis and I all the time keep watch over media retailers to see if there are any platforms for younger homosexual male gamers for assist however there are none,” he added. “I would love to look into and see what assist could be given to different gamers to encourage them.”
“After all there are homosexual footballers in our recreation. I’ve had numerous gamers get in contact saying they’ve learn my publish and so they can’t imagine how sturdy I’m by doing this. Hopefully the SFA can work with different leagues and companions and take a look at assist and drive how we assist different gamers.
“That assist is tremendously wanted within the males’s recreation,” Murray concluded. “Girls’s soccer is one other ball recreation. They’re utterly numerous and open, and that is one thing the boys’s recreation ought to aspire to be.”
The Gala Fairydean Rovers membership chair, Ryan Cass, stated: “Everybody on the membership is totally supportive of Zander and we’re delighted for him that he feels snug to return out. Zander has proven nice bravery and he has the membership’s full assist. I’m sure he’ll get the assist he deserves from all throughout the soccer household in Scotland.”
The Scottish Soccer Affiliation tweeted: “You’re going to encourage lots of people, Zander. We hear you and we’ll be in contact.”
