Former Newcastle Jets player Andy Brennan feels ‘weight lifted’ after coming out as gay

Footballer Andy Brennan admits his nerves soon turned to relief after becoming the first current or former A-League player to come out as gay. He hopes his story will help others.

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Footballer Andy Brennan admits feeling sheer relief after last night becoming the first current or former A-League player to come out as gay.

The Green Gully attacker made the brave decision to go public, with only a handful of current and former male footballers ever coming out.

Brennan, 26, revealed to the Herald Sun that it had tormented him, until finally revealing to tell a close friend last November after a trip overseas.

The former Newcastle Jets A-League player said he was overwhelmed by the number of responses when the news broke last night.

“I feel great. As soon as it went out, feel like that last weight was lifted off my shoulders, and I’m completely relaxed,” Brennan said.

“My phone has been going off.

“To be honest, I don’t even care about the negative messages.

“And I don’t feel I need to be validated with the positive ones, although I certainly do appreciate all the support. It’s probably good for others who may be in a similar boat to see.

“For me, I’m just happy to get it off my chest and move on to be honest. That’s why I did it.

“But there’s a lot of nice messages, I’ve looked through some of them and I appreciate it.

“I haven’t read all of it. I know the messages are positives.”

Former Newcastle Jet and current Green Gully NPL footballer Andy Brennan has come out.

Bravo, @AndyBrennan36 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/VIjBBCkTvu

— Anna Harrington (@AnnaHarrington) May 14, 2019

Bravo Andy Brennan 👏👏👏

Massive props for opening up about it. https://t.co/rlmmQhyhwm

— Ⓜ️ichael ThoⓂ️pson (@ThommoMedia) May 14, 2019

🗣 “For people wondering why it is important for me to share this - the reality is, is that no straight person has to ever question how those around them might respond to their sexuality.”

In My Words @AndyBrennan36 https://t.co/LgZubghLZx

— The PFA (@thepfa) May 14, 2019

HIDING SEXUALITY A BURDEN

Brennan admitted that hiding his sexuality had become a mental burden that he could no longer carry.

Brennan, who had a girlfriend as recently as June, revealed the relief he’s felt since first telling his mate in November.

“Six months ago I thought about it a lot, tried to hide it and push it aside because of the way I thought it would be perceived by many,’’ Brennan told the Herald Sun.

Brennan says he tried to hide his sexuality during his time in the A-League. Picture: Jay Town

“You’ve got to go through stages to understand that you can’t keep living this, I suppose, lie to yourself that one day you’re going to be happy if you want a family.

“It got to the point where I couldn’t waste any more time being in relationships that I wasn’t comfortable in and wouldn’t come to anything.

“You’ve got to realise that’s who you are and you’ve just gotta be who you are, whether you’re gay or whatever, whoever you are.

“Since being at Gully especially, it’s always been on my mind that this person doesn’t know or that person does know, what will they think? It’s just a complete mind overload, your mind’s battling yourself. All you want to do is kick a ball about and play.

“There will be people out there thinking why has he got to voice his own personal whatever to the world. The reason I wanted to do this in the first place was to make me feel comfortable.

“It’s been a big lift off my shoulders and I can just focus on playing football.”

THE A-LEAGUE

Brennan, who played five games for Newcastle Jets in 2016, said he was still grappling with his sexuality back then, before finally breaking the ice last November.

“Not at all. At that point I hadn’t wanted to accept it, hadn’t thought of it too much,’’ he said.

“I was focused on playing, even though I was injured at times and put all my focus into it. Maybe that in some ways smokescreened it and helped me put it aside.

“Statistically speaking, people playing sport, whether it would be football or AFL or any sport, you’d think there were more who would be gay.

“There is a bit of stigma within the sport and if people are going through what I went through, (they may think) it’s not okay because of not being accepted.”

The 26-year-old striker joined the Newcastle Jets in 2015.

TABOO TOPIC

US player Collin Martin (Minnesota United) is the only out gay male player in a top division around the world, while non-League player Liam Davis is the most prominent current example in English soccer, though ex-Germany and Aston Villa star Thomas Hitzlsperger came out in 2014.

Brennan, 26, has no idea on the effects of his decision to go public, and didn’t want to pressure others.

“This isn’t a call for those people to come out and tell everyone who they are. They shouldn’t have to, shouldn’t need to,’’ Brennan said.

“I did it this way because this is what is going to make me most comfortable, being open and honest with who I am.

Former Germany star Thomas Hitzlsperger (R) came out as gay in 2014.

“From there (if) people long — be it teenagers, A-League or AFL players — see inspiration and end up telling one person, that can really open them up and make them feel much better.

“If there’s people out who’ve had that burden, especially playing sport and feel like they can’t be who they are in a professional or amateur environment, it’s vital they see others accepted.

“My Gully teammates and coaches have been great. I haven’t felt uncomfortable with them, and that’s the biggest thing.”

THE PLAYERS’ REACTION

Players’ union chief executive John Didulica hailed this a significant moment, but said there was work to do.

“It is really encouraging that football has provided Andy a safe and inclusive environment to share his story and to feel comfortable to come out publicly,’’ Didulica said.

“Sports and sporting clubs, whether community or professional, are a platform for helping people become the best version of themselves. We’re not doing our job well enough if participants have a perception that their sexuality prevents them excelling or from building the trusting friendships that are the cornerstone of sport.”