'It's no wonder footballers don't want to come out'

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Jan 31, 2026 - 00:00
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'It's no wonder footballers don't want to come out'

Maldon & Tiptree co-owner Barrie Drewitt-Barlow said he wants to play a part in helping gay and bisexual players find acceptance within men's football.

The self-made millionaire took over the club with partner Scott Drewitt-Barlow in February 2025 and they have led a transformation of the club's fortunes on and off the pitch.

There are no openly gay players in the top four divisions of English football, and although former Blackpool forward Jake Daniels came out in 2022, he is currently without a club, having been released at the end of last season.

Drewitt-Barlow said he has been the target of social media abuse but if being a focal point "helps in some way", he is "happy" to fill that role.

"In terms of the local people around us we couldn't be more thankful for the reception we've had," he told BBC Essex. "[But] we're always going to get those people online who are homophobic and all of that.

"There's no wonder to me why a lot of footballers don't want to come out as being gay, or bi, or whatever, because they're just scared they're going to get such a negative reaction."

The Jammers are currently second in Isthmian League North Division, having won 20 of their 25 league games and only lost two - and they have three games in hand on leaders Felixstowe & Walton United, who are only four points ahead.

Earlier this season, they reached the first round proper of the FA Cup before losing to Port Vale, who are five tiers above them in the football pyramid.

Meanwhile, the women's team are top of the Essex Women's Premier Division with a 100% record.

"We never had a women's team before, or even a development programme for girls to come through and have a pathway - we do now," Drewitt-Barlow said. "That's been one of our biggest growth areas.

"Hopefully, we'll do the double this year. We want to win the men's league, win the women's league, and see where we go from there.

"I can see this being another Wrexham, if I'm being honest."

Drewitt-Barlow said he knew nothing about football before the takeover went through.

"Now I'm watching football on the TV at home, and before I used to leave the room whenever it was on," he added.

"I was looking at the ground and the facilities and thinking, 'There could be a great bar, a great restaurant,' the business side of it, not thinking about the football at all.

"Of course, it's taken completely over and it's all about football now, which I'm beginning to really love."

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