Leeds-born footballer Robbie Jacques reveals his struggle coming out as gay

Robbie, who grew up in Leeds and now plays for Nottingham Lions, has told how he realised he was gay aged 13, but went on to keep it secret for fear of persecution.

Describing his experiences, Robbie said he grew up in "a homophobic environment" and didn't come out to his family until he was 19.

He said: “My family life was really difficult at that time; my parents had separated, and I was briefly made homeless and had to live in a hostel with my dad.

“I had also started to realise I was different from all the other boys - I found it very difficult to cope with my emerging sexuality in that environment and retreated into a life of staying in playing video games.

“I knew I was gay from when I was about 13 years old, but I didn’t know how to express my true feelings as I feared the persecution I would get from family, friends and people in general.

“Knowing that I also liked guys older than myself made things even harder. Growing up in a working-class environment in Leeds I didn’t have anyone else to talk to and didn’t know anyone else who was gay.

“I was a young lad in a homophobic environment with a massive secret that I had no choice but to keep to myself."

Robbie said he kept his sexuality a secret until breaking down and telling a close friend aged 16, but joining a local amateur football team he continued to keep it under wraps.

“No-one knew I was gay. No-one in the team was gay.

“I tried my hardest to fit in, but I couldn’t be myself. I had no choice but to join in with the typical gay jokes and banter that were commonplace."

He added: “It took another few years until I was 19 before I came out to my family, with mixed response.

“Some of my family immediately gave me the love and support that I hoped for, but which I didn’t know if they would be able to provide - unfortunately, others were less welcoming of the news.

“I even got offers from a close family member to pay for gay counselling in the hope it would turn me straight as they were confused with my ‘decision’ to be gay.

“I didn’t speak to some close family members for a couple of months, but they then called me and apologised with all their heart and we continue to love each other very much.

"They just needed some time to realise that this wasn’t a choice; it was, and is, who I am."

Robbie met his current partner at Leeds Pride aged 19, and has since joined the Nottingham Lions Football Club after his boyfriend introduced him to the team's captain.

The club is considered one of the most LGBT-friendly in the region, and is this month partaking the Rainbow Laces campaign where football players show their support threaded through their soccer boots.

"There will always be homophobia", he added, "but my experience is that there are actually more people out there who will stick up for you".

“In the same way as racial abuse is not tolerated, homophobia should also not be tolerated and anyone doing so should be ejected from the venue.

“I know now that being gay is normal. Supporting and playing football whilst being gay is also normal, and there are many in the LGBT community who do just that.

“I look forward to the day when this is open, transparent and fully accepted across all levels and in all environments.”