Gay Soccer Coach Who Feared Coming Out Gets Overwhelming Support

A new name has been added to the list of out gay athletes -- Greg Mclean, a coach and club secretary at St. Margaret's Old Boy's football club in Liverpool on the Western side of England, has opened up about his recent experiences of coming out, especially in the world of athletics.

Back in 2015, McClean left his position, stating that he wasn't in a good place. His fear of being accepted by his players had gotten the best of him, and he had stepped out of the world of soccer.

But when McClean eventually decided to come out to his players through text message, the response was undeniably positive. In an interview with Sky Sports, McClean said that every player wanted him back as their coach, telling him that his fears were unfounded.

Now, he is back on the field. Sharing his story became important to him after hearing about the Rainbow Laces campaign, which advocates for visibility for LGBTQ athletes. The campaign has gained heavy traction in the UK, especially within the sports soccer and rugby.

"I feel it's an important subject to share and to talk about -- even if my story resonates deeply with just one person, it's worth doing," McClean said. "But I've already had so many messages that I know it's gone much further than that."