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ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-14--Ume6q ontend-pencraft-Text-module__le-height-20--p0dP8 ontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-normal--s54Wf ontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-text--QmNJR ontend-pencraft-Text-module__lor-sendary--WRADg ontend-pencraft-Text-module__ret--dW0zZ ontend-pencraft-Text-module__body4--Pl3xY">Not</div></button><button tabInx="0" id="trigger45529" aria-expand="false" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-ntrols="dialog45530" ariaLabel="View more" type="button" class="button share-actn"><div class="actn-in"><svg role="img" width="100" height="100" viewBox="0 0 100 100" fill="none" stroke-width="1.8" stroke="#000" xmlns="><g><tle></tle><circle cx="23" cy="50" r="9"></circle><circle cx="50" cy="50" r="9"></circle><circle cx="77" cy="50" r="9"></circle></g></svg></div><div translated class="pencraft ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-14--Ume6q ontend-pencraft-Text-module__le-height-20--p0dP8 ontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-normal--s54Wf ontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-text--QmNJR ontend-pencraft-Text-module__lor-sendary--WRADg ontend-pencraft-Text-module__ret--dW0zZ ontend-pencraft-Text-module__body4--Pl3xY">Other</div></button></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="post-hear"><h1 class="post-tle unpublished">Jt Fashanu: Football’s gay trailblazer and his last hurrah New Zealand </h1><h3 class="subtle">The striker, who beme the first openly gay profsnal men's footballer 1990, fished his reer wh Miramar Rangers Wellgton 1997.</h3><div class="pencraft ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Box-module__display-flex--ZqeZt ontend-pencraft-Box-module__flex-directn-lumn--Rq7pk ontend-pencraft-Box-module__paddg-bottom-16--KVxKv"><div class="pencraft ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Box-module__display-flex--ZqeZt ontend-pencraft-Box-module__flex-directn-lumn--Rq7pk ontend-pencraft-Box-module__paddg-y-16--ohCEm"><div class="pencraft ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Box-module__display-flex--ZqeZt ontend-pencraft-Box-module__flex-jtify-start--_8fEd ontend-pencraft-Box-module__flex-align-center--rSd6h ontend-pencraft-Box-module__flex-gap-12--rODKq"><div class="pencraft ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Box-module__display-flex--ZqeZt"><div class="pencraft ontend-pencraft-Box-module__flexGrow--mx4xz ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Box-module__display-flex--ZqeZt ontend-pencraft-Box-module__flex-align-center--rSd6h ontend-pencraft-Box-module__flex-gap-8--HFpIK facepile"><div class="pencraft ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Box-module__display-flex--ZqeZt ontend-pencraft-Box-module__flex-align-center--rSd6h"><div class="pencraft ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Box-module__display-flex--ZqeZt ontend-pencraft-Box-module__flex-align-center--rSd6h ontend-ponents-Facepile-module__fac--FVkdk ontend-ponents-Facepile-module__size-40--pH6IT"><div class="profile-hover-rd-target ontend-rear2-ProfileAndPublitnHoverCard-module__profileHoverCardTarget--Od_YL"><a href=" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="pencraft ontend-pencraft-Box-module__flexAuto--CnX9I ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Box-module__display-flex--ZqeZt"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset=" /><img src=" siz="100vw" alt style="z-x: 1;" width="80" class="ontend-ponents-rponsive_img-module__img--Pgjj2 facepile-face ontend-ponents-Facepile-module__face--uAQkp ontend-ponents-Facepile-module__size-40--pH6IT ontend-ponents-Facepile-module__first--TZamh ontend-ponents-Facepile-module__last--DT3p3" /></picture></a></div></div></div></div></div><div class="pencraft ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Box-module__display-flex--ZqeZt ontend-pencraft-Box-module__flex-directn-lumn--Rq7pk"><div class="pencraft ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-11--k1e8b ontend-pencraft-Text-module__le-height-20--p0dP8 ontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-medium--x7khA ontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-meta--U_nxy ontend-pencraft-Text-module__lor-pub-primary-text--RzL7j ontend-pencraft-Text-module__transform-upperse--IDkUL ontend-pencraft-Text-module__ret--dW0zZ ontend-pencraft-Text-module__meta--jzHdd"><div class="profile-hover-rd-target ontend-rear2-ProfileAndPublitnHoverCard-module__profileHoverCardTarget--Od_YL"><a href=" class="pencraft ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Text-module__ratn-hover-unrle--BEYAn ontend-pencraft-Text-module__ret--dW0zZ">Mathew Nash</a></div></div><div class="pencraft ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Box-module__display-flex--ZqeZt ontend-pencraft-Box-module__flex-gap-4--zeW5_"><div class="pencraft ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-11--k1e8b ontend-pencraft-Text-module__le-height-20--p0dP8 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post-ufi-button style-button"><a role="button" class="post-ufi-button style-button has-label wh-borr"><svg role="img" style="height: 20px; width: 20px;" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="#000000" stroke-width="2" stroke="#000" xmlns=" class="in"><g><tle></tle><svg xmlns=" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke-width="2" stroke-lep="round" stroke-lejo="round" class="luci luci-heart"><path d="M19 14c1.49-1.46 3-3.21 3-5.5A5.5 5.5 0 0 0 16.5 3c-1.76 0-3 .5-4.5 2-1.5-1.5-2.74-2-4.5-2A5.5 5.5 0 0 0 2 8.5c0 2.3 1.5 4.05 3 5.5l7 7Z"></path></svg></g></svg><div class="label">1</div></a><div ert role="dialog" class="modal typography out gone share-dialog popup"><div class="modal-table"><div class="modal-row"><div class="modal-cell modal-ntent no-fullscreen"><div class="ntaer"><button tabInx="0" type="button" data-ttid="close-modal" class="pencraft modal-btn modal-ex-btn no-marg ontend-pencraft-Button-module__inButton--xpBoH 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ontend-pencraft-Box-module__display-flex--ZqeZt ontend-pencraft-Box-module__paddg-8--wF5Sz ontend-pencraft-Box-module__borr-tail--MiH57 ontend-pencraft-Box-module__borr-radi-12--AmQy9 social-preview-box post"><div class="social-image-box"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset=" /><img src=" siz="100vw" alt loadg="lazy" width="120" class="ontend-ponents-rponsive_img-module__img--Pgjj2 social-image" /></picture></div><div class="pencraft ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Box-module__display-flex--ZqeZt ontend-pencraft-Box-module__flex-directn-lumn--Rq7pk ontend-pencraft-Box-module__paddg-y-8--exiCC ontend-pencraft-Box-module__paddg-left-12--eE6bp"><h4 class="pencraft ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-16--fFowu ontend-pencraft-Text-module__le-height-20--p0dP8 ontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-bold--Ps9DB ontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-text--QmNJR ontend-pencraft-Text-module__lor-primary--ud4Z0 ontend-pencraft-Text-module__ret--dW0zZ">Jt Fashanu: Football’s gay trailblazer and his last hurrah New Zealand </h4><div class="pencraft ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-14--Ume6q ontend-pencraft-Text-module__le-height-20--p0dP8 ontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-normal--s54Wf ontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-text--QmNJR ontend-pencraft-Text-module__lor-sendary--WRADg ontend-pencraft-Text-module__ret--dW0zZ ontend-pencraft-Text-module__body4--Pl3xY"></div></div></div><div class="pencraft ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Box-module__display-flex--ZqeZt ontend-pencraft-Box-module__flex-jtify-space-between--NvIcg ontend-pencraft-Box-module__flex-gap-8--HFpIK share-dialog-buttons-wrapper"><button tabInx="0" type="button" class="button share-actn"><div class="actn-in"><svg role="img" width="20" height="16" viewBox="0 0 20 16" fill="none" stroke-width="1.8" stroke="#000" xmlns="><g><tle></tle><path fill-le="evenodd" 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wh-borr"><div class="label">Share</div></a></div></div></div></div><div class="visibily-check"></div><div class class><div class="available-ntent"><div dir="to" class="body markup"><p>Jt Fashanu’s life was extraordary, tumultuo and, ultimately short. Raised foster re, his football reer bted to life at Norwich Cy wh a stunng goal of the season agast Liverpool 1980. He went on to bee Bra’s first £1 ln black footballer but remas bt known to this day as the first openly gay men’s profsnal footballer.</p><p>This week marks 25 years sce Fashanu’s ath. Of all the stori that uld be told of his remarkable and ntroversial 37 years of life one that is often fotten is that of his last season as a player, played, of all plac, here New Zealand, wh Wellgton-based Miramar Rangers.</p><p>This is the story of Fashanu’s Kiwi swan song. </p><p><em>*This story als wh the issue of suici. Rear discretn is advised.*</em></p><div class="ptned-image-ntaer"><figure><a class="image-lk is-viewable-img image2" target="_blank" href=" data-ponent-name="Image2ToDOM" rel="nofollow ugc noopener"><div class="image2-set"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset=" 424w, 848w, 1272w, 1456w" siz="100vw" /><img src=" width="642" height="385.2" data-attrs="{"src":"" class="sizg-normal" alt srcset=" 424w, 848w, 1272w, 1456w" siz="100vw" fetchprry="high" /></picture><div class="image-lk-expand"><svg xmlns=" width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="#FFFFFF" stroke-width="2" stroke-lep="round" stroke-lejo="round" class="luci luci-maximize2"><polyle pots="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyle><polyle pots="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyle><le x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></le><le x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></le></svg></div></div></a><figptn class="image-ptn">Jt Fashanu Norwich Cy lours. Photo cred: Kiwinary.</figptn></figure></div><p>Ahead of another summer of football Miramar Rangers were stgglg to fd a striker to spearhead their attack. An attempt to lure Mount Mnganui goal-mache Alan Lamb had failed and head ach John Cameron was stgglg for optns. </p><p>However, he was luck. Out of the blue me a ll om New Zealand Football velopment officer Glenn Turner wh a too-good-to-be-te proposn.</p><p>Prr to his role at NZF, Glenn, who passed away last year, worked as a physil tor Fashanu’s home unty of Norfolk and the two were close. Turner was aware of Miramar’s striker shortage and felt Jt might be the solutn. After all, he would not even be the first Fashanu to play for the club. Younger brother John, perhaps better known to New Zealanrs as the former -prenter of neti UK TV classic Gladiators, played for the club on loan 1982. </p><p>Sudnly, Miramar’s boss had the chance to brg a player of real pedigree to the Pensula. </p><div id="youtube2-1Wk34X94Whk" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{"vioId":"1Wk34X94Whk","startTime":null,"endTime":null}" data-ponent-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-ner"><iame src=" ameborr="0" loadg="lazy" gture="media" allow="toplay; fullscreen" allowtoplay="te" allowfullscreen="te" width="728" height="409"></iame></div></div><p>However, rervatns remaed. Not about his sexualy or regulary UK red tops, the were strictly sportg rervatns. Severe knee juri had forced Fashanu to a nomadic later reer experience. In the eight years prr to his Kiwi adventure, Fashanu played for 15 clubs across England, Canada, Stland, Swen and the Uned Stat. </p><p>“We did have a b of a ncern not knowg enough about his physil well-beg,” explas Cameron.</p><p>“So as a club, we agreed was bt to offer Jt to e out here so we uld meet him first-hand and anise for a game to be played. Then we uld n our eye over him and be fortable that he was a viable optn physilly.”</p><p>To Cameron’s amazement, Fashanu agreed. Wh the start of the season rapidly approachg a hastily arranged iendly between Miramar and a Wellgton Invatnal XI took place Petone one Tuday night.</p><p>“It was que credible,” Cameron rells. </p><p>“I thk there was a crowd of about 4,000 people that turned up and Jt shed, cludg gettg a goal and we quickly enavoured to put a al together to brg him over for the summer season.” </p><div data-ponent-name="SubscribeWidget" class="subscribe-widget"><div class="pencraft ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Box-module__display-flex--ZqeZt ontend-pencraft-Box-module__flex-jtify-center--SQPji"><div class="ontend-ponents-ee_email_form-module__ntaer--OfBh4"><form actn="/api/v1/ee?nojs=te" method="post" noValidate class="form ontend-ponents-ee_email_form-module__form--LDIzl"><put type="hidn" name="first_url" /><put type="hidn" name="first_referrer" /><put type="hidn" name="current_url" /><put type="hidn" name="current_referrer" /><put type="hidn" name="referral_" /><put type="hidn" name="source" value="subscribe-widget" /><put type="hidn" name="referrg_pub_id" /><put type="hidn" name="addnal_referrg_pub_ids" /><div class="ontend-ponents-ee_email_form-module__siBySiWrap--yhsgv"><put type="email" name="email" placeholr="Type your email..." class="pencraft ontend-ponents-ee_email_form-module__emailInput--BLQGf" /><button tabInx="0" type="subm" class="button rightButton primary subscribe-btn ontend-ponents-ee_email_form-module__button--WcLG9"><span class="button-text ">Subscribe</span></button></div><div id="error-ntaer"></div><div class="subtle-help-text below-put ontend-ponents-ee_email_form-module__lks--G_QlQ"></div></form><div class="ontend-log-typo_handler-EmailTypoHandler-module__animatnWrapper--UT0du"></div></div></div></div><p>Some entreprenrial ntacts helped put a fancial package together volvg acmodatn and a motor vehicle. A few weeks later, Fashanu was lg up at Melville for his New Zealand Natnal League but.  </p><p>As a team-mate, Fashanu is remembered as a hard-workg, happy and willg striker wh none of the baggage or primadonna tennci you might expect for a player once worth six figur. </p><p>His skre regimen appears to be of particular note. Several ex-lleagu remisce about wh joy. Fashanu, an imposg physil specimen, drew envy om his more tradnally built team-mat who would joke about whether ‘Fash’s potns would work for them.’</p><div class="ptned-image-ntaer"><figure><a class="image-lk is-viewable-img image2" target="_blank" href=" data-ponent-name="Image2ToDOM" rel="nofollow ugc noopener"><div class="image2-set"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset=" 424w, 848w, 1272w, 1456w" siz="100vw" /><img src=" width="1280" height="720" data-attrs="{"src":"" class="sizg-normal" alt srcset=" 424w, 848w, 1272w, 1456w" siz="100vw" loadg="lazy" /></picture><div class="image-lk-expand"><svg xmlns=" width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="#FFFFFF" stroke-width="2" stroke-lep="round" stroke-lejo="round" class="luci luci-maximize2"><polyle pots="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyle><polyle pots="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyle><le x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></le><le x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></le></svg></div></div></a><figptn class="image-ptn">Fashanu celebrat his 1980 Goal of the Season v Liverpool. Photo cred: BBC Sport.</figptn></figure></div><p>Future New Zealand ternatnal goalkeeper Jam Bannatyne was jt a youngster when Fashanu joed the club. The age gap meant he didn’t know Fashanu well but his quali on the pch shone through. </p><p>“I have two memori of Jt that really stand out,” says Bannatyne. </p><p>“One was that lotn,” he jok.</p><p>“The other was a hear that was probably better than Grant Turner’s famo one agast Atralia. What a hear, one of the bt you’ll ever see. </p><p>“It was an absolute monstratn of his raw qualy. Look he was his mid-30s but he still had that timg and qualy.”</p><p>On the pch, Fashanu performed well, srg 12 goals 18 gam but was a disappotg season for Miramar Rangers as a team, missg out on a play-off spot. </p><p>Off the pch, however, is where Fashanu’s impact was really seen. Cameron rells the creased fanfare and attendance whenever ‘Fash’ was playg. He add a glamour and celebry to the lol football scene perhaps prevly unseen.</p><p>Away om the glare, Fashanu was also keen to give back. He helped two Kiwi talents earn soccer scholarships at US universi, he judged at a fashn event at the Wellgton Cup and was a regular visor to the child ncer un at Wellgton Hospal. When he died, a father of one young boy beg treated for a bra tumour spoke of his son’s anguish at the passg of ‘My Jt’. </p><div class="ptned-image-ntaer"><figure><a class="image-lk is-viewable-img image2" target="_blank" href=" data-ponent-name="Image2ToDOM" rel="nofollow ugc noopener"><div class="image2-set"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset=" 424w, 848w, 1272w, 1456w" siz="100vw" /><img src=" width="968" height="478" data-attrs="{"src":"" class="sizg-normal" alt srcset=" 424w, 848w, 1272w, 1456w" siz="100vw" loadg="lazy" /></picture><div class="image-lk-expand"><svg xmlns=" width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="#FFFFFF" stroke-width="2" stroke-lep="round" stroke-lejo="round" class="luci luci-maximize2"><polyle pots="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyle><polyle pots="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyle><le x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></le><le x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></le></svg></div></div></a><figptn class="image-ptn">An Eveng Post article om 1997 highlighted Fashanu’s drive to improve achg for young Kiwi footballers. </figptn></figure></div><p><span>It was a far cry om the pictn often portrayed the Brish media. Although he certaly had his flaws, the admissn he had tried to sell fake stori to a natnal newspaper about alleged gay relatnships wh MPs </span><a href=" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">st him his job at Sttish si Hearts</a><span>, his eight months New Zealand passed whout sndal.</span></p><p>“There were always mours that appeared to follow him but not when he was out here,” says Cameron. </p><p>“He was gregar, no doubt, and always a human headle, but all I n say is that New Zealand, he was a human headle for all the right reasons and was jt a really good thg for football.”</p><p>In Cameron, Fashanu had a ach clearly disterted the often-reported aspects of his personal life. That had not always been the se England. </p><p><span>Not only did Fashanu suffer homophobia om members of the UK prs and football fanbase, but he also faced om his own managers. The legendary Brian Clough, who ma him a £1m player wh his move to Nottgham Fort 1981, eventually admted his celty toward Fashanu. </span><a href=" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">He once famoly threatened to ll the police on him when Fashanu refed a transfer to Derby County. </a><span>Fashanu found no such trouble Wellgton.</span></p><p>“His sexualy was never really a thg,” says Cameron.  </p><p>“I never wnsed or rell, and I’m sure I would've found out if had happened, of any kd of hostily or anythg like that.”</p><div data-ponent-name="SubscribeWidget" class="subscribe-widget"><div class="pencraft ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Box-module__display-flex--ZqeZt ontend-pencraft-Box-module__flex-jtify-center--SQPji"><div class="ontend-ponents-ee_email_form-module__ntaer--OfBh4"><form actn="/api/v1/ee?nojs=te" method="post" noValidate class="form ontend-ponents-ee_email_form-module__form--LDIzl"><put type="hidn" name="first_url" /><put type="hidn" name="first_referrer" /><put type="hidn" name="current_url" /><put type="hidn" name="current_referrer" /><put type="hidn" name="referral_" /><put type="hidn" name="source" value="subscribe-widget" /><put type="hidn" name="referrg_pub_id" /><put type="hidn" name="addnal_referrg_pub_ids" /><div class="ontend-ponents-ee_email_form-module__siBySiWrap--yhsgv"><put type="email" name="email" placeholr="Type your email..." class="pencraft ontend-ponents-ee_email_form-module__emailInput--BLQGf" /><button tabInx="0" type="subm" class="button rightButton primary subscribe-btn ontend-ponents-ee_email_form-module__button--WcLG9"><span class="button-text ">Subscribe</span></button></div><div id="error-ntaer"></div><div class="subtle-help-text below-put ontend-ponents-ee_email_form-module__lks--G_QlQ"></div></form><div class="ontend-log-typo_handler-EmailTypoHandler-module__animatnWrapper--UT0du"></div></div></div></div><p>Fashanu’s experience has long been a utnary tale agast g out the men’s game. He is often held up as the example of why there are so few openly gay male footballers. Ined, is strikg that took until roughly a year ago for Blackpool youngster Jake Daniels to bee the next profsnal male UK active footballer to e out as gay, 32 years sce Fashanu beme the first and prev 1990.</p><div id="youtube2-Hh580JdiA" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{"vioId":"Hh580JdiA","startTime":null,"endTime":null}" data-ponent-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-ner"><iame src=" ameborr="0" loadg="lazy" gture="media" allow="toplay; fullscreen" allowtoplay="te" allowfullscreen="te" width="728" height="409"></iame></div></div><p>But Fashanu’s time New Zealand appears to have been void of the bigotry that had plagued large parts of his time the UK.</p><p>As former teammate and All Whe David Chote tails, was simply a non-issue the sheds at Miramar.</p><p>“I had been the UK the eighti and Jt was a big name then and the attentn he got was nasty really,” Chote explas.</p><p>“I thk he felt fortable the New Zealand environment. Away om any dramas relatn to his private life where he uld play football and have an adventure.</p><p>“He wasn't at all the closet or anythg like that. There was no secrecy or sndal bee his private life was public. If he had boyiends they'd be at the club, if he didn't they wouldn't be at the club. He was open, totally open. </p><p>“It's sort of a smaller environment here where there wasn’t really that much tert his sexualy really.”</p><div class="ptned-image-ntaer"><figure><a class="image-lk is-viewable-img image2" target="_blank" href=" data-ponent-name="Image2ToDOM" rel="nofollow ugc noopener"><div class="image2-set"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset=" 424w, 848w, 1272w, 1456w" siz="100vw" /><img src=" width="480" height="614" data-attrs="{"src":"" class="sizg-normal" alt srcset=" 424w, 848w, 1272w, 1456w" siz="100vw" loadg="lazy" /></picture><div class="image-lk-expand"><svg xmlns=" width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="#FFFFFF" stroke-width="2" stroke-lep="round" stroke-lejo="round" class="luci luci-maximize2"><polyle pots="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyle><polyle pots="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyle><le x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></le><le x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></le></svg></div></div></a></figure></div><p>After eight months, Fashanu left New Zealand and dog so he played his fal game as a profsnal footballer. He took up a achg role Maryland, USA, hangg up his boots wh his fal game beg agast Woolston March of 1997. </p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{"url":" Two Halv","actn":null,"class":null}" data-ponent-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href=" rel="nofollow ugc noopener"><span>Share Two Halv</span></a></p><p> The followg March, Fashanu’s life urted ntroversy aga. He was acced of the alleged sexual asslt of a 17-year-old Ellit Cy, Howard County.</p><p><span>In a state where homosexualy was still illegal, </span><a href=" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">Fashanu nied the allegatns</a><span>.</span></p><p>On May 2 1998, 14 months after his time New Zealand me to an end, Fashanu, 37, was ad. His e of ath was suici. </p><p>His ath shocked those that knew Fashanu durg his time the pal. </p><p>“He stck me as a good guy who really red about people and had a nice tone about him,” says Bannatyne. </p><p>“I n’t speak for everyone but I know I was really shocked and sad.”   </p><p>While his ath was reported cly the UK, New Zealand, tribut poured for a man who, the words of his boss Cameron, “jt wanted to be liked and loved.” </p><p><span>Many dismissed the Maryland allegatn but his name has never been cleared. That said, Fashanu has </span><a href=" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">been entered to England’s Natnal Football Hall of Fame</a><span>. A </span><a href=" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">petn for his statue to be erected outsi Norwich’s Carrow Road</a><span> ground gathered pace late last year. A dramatic televisual retellg of his life and relatnship wh his brother </span><a href=" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">has jt been missned</a><span>. He remas divisive but beloved. A trailblazer to many, and a menace to others.</span></p><div class="ptned-image-ntaer"><figure><a class="image-lk is-viewable-img image2" target="_blank" href=" data-ponent-name="Image2ToDOM" rel="nofollow ugc noopener"><div class="image2-set"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset=" 424w, 848w, 1272w, 1456w" siz="100vw" /><img src=" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{"src":"" class="sizg-normal" alt srcset=" 424w, 848w, 1272w, 1456w" siz="100vw" loadg="lazy" /></picture><div class="image-lk-expand"><svg xmlns=" width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="#FFFFFF" stroke-width="2" stroke-lep="round" stroke-lejo="round" class="luci luci-maximize2"><polyle pots="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyle><polyle pots="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyle><le x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></le><le x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></le></svg></div></div></a><figptn class="image-ptn">Fashanu was ducted to the Natnal Football Mm Hall of Fame 2020. Photo cred: ITV News/YouTube.</figptn></figure></div><p>Fashanu’s tnted life was often lived the spotlight but, New Zealand, appears Fashanu found that elive slice of heaven. Not only was his sexualy not a problem but seemgly, a non-issue.</p><p>“If people feel fortable wh me as a person, then my sexualy is not important,” Fashanu once said. In New Zealand, that’s what he got.</p><p>It was perhaps the perfect way to end his playg reer, one which igned so dramatilly wh that timels goal agast Liverpool before urtg such divisive ntroversy relatn to his sexualy. Fashanu fished his playg reer as he started , reee and wh a se on his face. </p><p>As wh most thgs when to a footballer, his time New Zealand is perhaps bt summed up by a team-mate, an opn fed battle om grounds across the natn.</p><p>“I rell Jt lghg a lot and sg a lot,” rells his old attackg ra Chote.  </p><p>“I remember him beg iendly and gregar. All the adjectiv for someone who is havg a really good time. </p><p>“He was and still is a very posive memory for me, both on and off the pch.”</p><div class="subscriptn-widget-wrap"><div class="subscriptn-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p>Thanks for readg Two Halv! Subscribe for ee to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><div data-ponent-name="SubscribeWidget" class="subscribe-widget"><div class="pencraft ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Box-module__display-flex--ZqeZt ontend-pencraft-Box-module__flex-jtify-center--SQPji"><div class="ontend-ponents-ee_email_form-module__ntaer--OfBh4"><form actn="/api/v1/ee?nojs=te" method="post" noValidate class="form ontend-ponents-ee_email_form-module__form--LDIzl"><put type="hidn" name="first_url" /><put type="hidn" name="first_referrer" /><put type="hidn" name="current_url" /><put type="hidn" name="current_referrer" /><put type="hidn" name="referral_" /><put type="hidn" name="source" value="subscribe-widget-preamble" /><put type="hidn" name="referrg_pub_id" /><put type="hidn" name="addnal_referrg_pub_ids" /><div class="ontend-ponents-ee_email_form-module__siBySiWrap--yhsgv"><put type="email" name="email" placeholr="Type your email..." class="pencraft ontend-ponents-ee_email_form-module__emailInput--BLQGf" /><button tabInx="0" type="subm" class="button rightButton primary subscribe-btn ontend-ponents-ee_email_form-module__button--WcLG9"><span class="button-text ">Subscribe</span></button></div><div id="error-ntaer"></div><div class="subtle-help-text below-put ontend-ponents-ee_email_form-module__lks--G_QlQ"></div></form><div class="ontend-log-typo_handler-EmailTypoHandler-module__animatnWrapper--UT0du"></div></div></div></div></div></div><p><em><strong>WHERE TO GET HELP (NZ)</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>For unsellg and support</strong></em></p><ul><li><p><em><strong>Need to talk?</strong><span> Free ll or text </span><strong><a href="tel:1737" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">1737</a></strong><span> any time</span></em></p></li><li><p><em><strong><a href=" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">Lifele</a></strong><span> </span><strong>–</strong><span> </span><a href="tel:0800543354" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">0800 543 354</a></em></p></li><li><p><em><strong><a href=" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">Samarans</a></strong><span> </span><strong>– </strong><a href="tel:0800726666" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">0800 726 666</a></em></p></li><li><p><em><strong>Che Lifele</strong><span> – </span><a href="tel:0800888880" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">0800 888 880</a><br /><span>(for people who speak Mandar or Cantone)</span></em></p></li></ul><p><em><strong>For children and young people</strong></em></p><ul><li><p><em><strong><a href=" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">Youthle</a></strong><span> – </span><a href="tel:0800376633" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">0800 376 633</a><span>, ee text </span><a href="tel:234" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">234</a><span> or email </span><a href="" rel="nofollow ugc noopener"></a><br /><span>(for young people, and their parents, whān and iends)</span></em></p></li><li><p><em><strong><a href=" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">What's Up</a></strong><span> – </span><a href="tel:08009428787" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">0800 942 8787</a><br /><span>(for 5–18 year olds; 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class="label">1</div></a><div ert role="dialog" class="modal typography out gone share-dialog popup"><div class="modal-table"><div class="modal-row"><div class="modal-cell modal-ntent no-fullscreen"><div class="ntaer"><button tabInx="0" type="button" data-ttid="close-modal" class="pencraft modal-btn modal-ex-btn no-marg ontend-pencraft-Button-module__inButton--xpBoH ontend-pencraft-Button-module__buttonBase--T0hXz ontend-pencraft-Button-module__size_40--RASvV ontend-pencraft-Button-module__prry_sendary--UEXV6 ontend-pencraft-Button-module__fill_empty--OPYgN ontend-pencraft-Button-module__round--D6jfD"><svg xmlns=" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="sendary" stroke-width="2" stroke-lep="round" stroke-lejo="round" class="luci luci-x"><le x1="18" x2="6" y1="6" y2="18"></le><le x1="6" x2="18" y1="6" y2="18"></le></svg></button><div class="share-dialog-tle">Share this post</div><div class="pencraft ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Box-module__display-flex--ZqeZt ontend-pencraft-Box-module__flex-directn-lumn--Rq7pk ontend-pencraft-Box-module__flex-gap-32--uRr14 ontend-pencraft-Box-module__paddg-x-24--ViY5j ontend-pencraft-Box-module__paddg-top-32--hE9Ly ontend-pencraft-Box-module__paddg-bottom-48--OND"><div class="pencraft ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Box-module__display-flex--ZqeZt ontend-pencraft-Box-module__paddg-8--wF5Sz ontend-pencraft-Box-module__borr-tail--MiH57 ontend-pencraft-Box-module__borr-radi-12--AmQy9 social-preview-box post"><div class="social-image-box"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset=" /><img src=" siz="100vw" alt loadg="lazy" width="120" class="ontend-ponents-rponsive_img-module__img--Pgjj2 social-image" /></picture></div><div class="pencraft ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Box-module__display-flex--ZqeZt ontend-pencraft-Box-module__flex-directn-lumn--Rq7pk ontend-pencraft-Box-module__paddg-y-8--exiCC ontend-pencraft-Box-module__paddg-left-12--eE6bp"><h4 class="pencraft ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-16--fFowu ontend-pencraft-Text-module__le-height-20--p0dP8 ontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-bold--Ps9DB ontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-text--QmNJR ontend-pencraft-Text-module__lor-primary--ud4Z0 ontend-pencraft-Text-module__ret--dW0zZ">Jt Fashanu: Football’s gay trailblazer and his last hurrah New Zealand </h4><div class="pencraft ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-14--Ume6q ontend-pencraft-Text-module__le-height-20--p0dP8 ontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-normal--s54Wf ontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-text--QmNJR ontend-pencraft-Text-module__lor-sendary--WRADg ontend-pencraft-Text-module__ret--dW0zZ ontend-pencraft-Text-module__body4--Pl3xY"></div></div></div><div class="pencraft ontend-pencraft-Box-module__ret--VfQY8 ontend-pencraft-Box-module__display-flex--ZqeZt 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gay new zealand footballer

Beg an out gay man and a soccer player is still somethg that’s greeted wh homophobia. See eight out and proud male gay footballers.

Contents:

OPN: WHY A-LEAGUE FOOTBALLER JOSH CAVALLO G OUT AS GAY IS BIG NEWS

The striker, who beme the first openly gay profsnal men's footballer 1990, fished his reer wh Miramar Rangers Wellgton 1997. * gay new zealand footballer *

As Jim Kay wrote this month's NZ Rugby World magaze, beg gay gby is "so rare" that there is yet to be a openly gay profsnal gby-playg man. Before the release of this month's edn of the magaze, Kay spoke to Chiefs and All Blacks halfback Brad Weber, who believ is virtually impossible for a gay man to make to the top of the sport, not bee they aren't good enough, but bee the game will have driven them out by then.

Weber says the language ed schools and clubs, and the culture reflects, would drive out even the most talented man, if they were stgglg wh their sexualy or if they knew they were gay. By speakg out, Asie footballer Cavallo has shown everyone his termatn and pri himself got him through years of fightg the normalised homophobia the sportg world.

TWO HALVSUBSCRIBESIGN {"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","URL":","MAENTYOFPAGE":","HEADLE":"JT FASHANU: FOOTBALL\U2019S GAY TRAILBLAZER AND HIS LAST HURRAH NEW ZEALAND ","SCRIPTN":"THE STRIKER, WHO BEME THE FIRST OPENLY GAY PROFSNAL MEN'S FOOTBALLER 1990, FISHED HIS REER WH MIRAMAR RANGERS WELLGTON 1997.","IMAGE":[{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":"}],"DATEPUBLISHED":"2023-05-02T06:00:59+00:00","DATEMODIFIED":"2023-05-02T06:00:59+00:00","ISACCSIBLEFORFREE":TE,"THOR":[{"@TYPE":"PERSON","NAME":"MATHEW NASH","URL":","SCRIPTN":"KIWI NVERT. ","INTIFIER":"ER:40570384","SAMEAS":["],"IMAGE":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","NTENTURL":","THUMBNAILURL":"}}],"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"TWO HALV","URL":","SCRIPTN":"THE BAD AND THE UGLY SI OF FOOTBALL, WH A LTLE OF THE GOOD.","TERACTNSTATISTIC":{"@TYPE":"INTERACTNCOUNTER","NAME":"SUBSCRIBERS","TERACTNTYPE":","ERINTERACTNCOUNT":10},"INTIFIER":"PUB:420091","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","NTENTURL":","THUMBNAILURL":"},"IMAGE":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","NTENTURL":","THUMBNAILURL":"}}}SHARE THIS POSTJT FASHANU: FOOTBALL’S GAY TRAILBLAZER AND HIS LAST HURRAH NEW ZEALAND COPY LKFACEBOOKEMAILNOTOTHERJT FASHANU: FOOTBALL’S GAY TRAILBLAZER AND HIS LAST HURRAH NEW ZEALAND

How the first openly gay profsnal men’s footballer — one of England’s most headle-grabbg stars of the 80s and 90s — end his reer playg for a Wellgton club si New Zealand’s summer league. * gay new zealand footballer *

Cavallo says he "was ashamed I'd never be able to do what I love and be gay". A study on sexualy sport entled 'Out on the Fields' claims 78 percent of sportg participants wns or experience homophobia sport. More than half of gay men, nearly 50 percent of lbians and 27 percent of straight men say they have personally experienced homophobia a sportg environment, but here's one statistic that needs to change before any others will.

JOSH CAVALLO BE ONE OF THE FEW PROFSNAL MEN'S FOOTBALLERS TO E OUT AS GAY

The Alai Uned midfielr announced that he was gay a vio posted to the team's Twter acunt Tuday. * gay new zealand footballer *

Twenty percent of gay men do not play youth team sports, wh 55 percent of them sayg negative experienc school PE class turned them off team sports or they feared they would be bullied. Twenty-ne percent of gay youth fear discrimatn om ach and officials.

A staggerg 76 percent believe an openly gay, lbian or bisexual person would not be very safe as a spectator at a sportg event.

At an All Blacks game last year, I got to a discsn wh a fellow spectator, who sisted on referrg to thgs as "so gay".

HEATH DAVIS BE FIRST MALE NEW ZEALAND CRICKETER TO E OUT AS GAY

Former New Zealand Tt player Heath Davis has bee the untry’s first male ternatnal cricketer to publicly speak about beg gay * gay new zealand footballer *

Openly gay gby player Gareth Thomas beaten homophobic Cardiff attack. Ne-year-old boy di after homophobic bullyg om classmat. There was only so far one uld go wh all the bullyg and homophobic mentary.

GAY NEW ZEALAND

Gay New Zealand Gui 2022. Explore the bt of gay New Zealand. Fd the popular gay bars, nightclubs, hotels, rtrants, snas and more. Exclive reviews, maps, disunts. * gay new zealand footballer *

I'm a lot olr now and I'm a fan of many thgs that some would say are the oppose of "so gay". "I'm sure there are thoands of gay fans of the sports, but none of them are out and proud on the field. One day, there may be an 'out' All Black, who chang men's gby culture here New Zealand too, but until then, let's celebrate Cavallo, a footballer, who is proud to be gay.

He went on to bee Bra’s first £1 ln black footballer but remas bt known to this day as the first openly gay men’s profsnal week marks 25 years sce Fashanu’s ath. Although he certaly had his flaws, the admissn he had tried to sell fake stori to a natnal newspaper about alleged gay relatnships wh MPs st him his job at Sttish si Hearts, his eight months New Zealand passed whout sndal. Not only did Fashanu suffer homophobia om members of the UK prs and football fanbase, but he also faced om his own managers.

He is often held up as the example of why there are so few openly gay male footballers. Ined, is strikg that took until roughly a year ago for Blackpool youngster Jake Daniels to bee the next profsnal male UK active footballer to e out as gay, 32 years sce Fashanu beme the first and prev Fashanu’s time New Zealand appears to have been void of the bigotry that had plagued large parts of his time the former teammate and All Whe David Chote tails, was simply a non-issue the sheds at Miramar. He was acced of the alleged sexual asslt of a 17-year-old Ellit Cy, Howard a state where homosexualy was still illegal, Fashanu nied the May 2 1998, 14 months after his time New Zealand me to an end, Fashanu, 37, was ad.

HERE ARE EIGHT OUT AND PROUD MALE GAY FOOTBALLERS

How the first openly gay profsnal men’s footballer — one of England’s most headle-grabbg stars of the 80s and 90s — end his reer playg for a Wellgton club si New Zealand’s summer league. He remas bt known, however, as the first openly gay profsnal men’s footballer, g out publicly 1990.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* GAY NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLER

Here are eight out and PROUD male gay footballers.

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