The tragic life of Justin Fashanu, football's gay pioneer

Justin Fashanu had a complicated life, with unbelievable talent and a career many would dream of, he was also haunted by his own demons all whilst dealing with his sexuality in time where it was difficult to be an out gay man. During Pride month, it is important to tell the story of one of football’s early gay pioneers.

Justin and his younger brother John were born in London to a Nigerian barrister and a Guyanese nurse in 1961 and 1962 respectively. After their parents split, the brothers were sent to a Barnardo's (British charity aiming to care for vulnerable children) care home.

Aged six, Justin was fostered, along with his brother, by Alf and Betty Jackson. They lived in Shropham, Norfolk.

From an early age, it was obvious both the brothers were talented footballers, but Justin also excelled at boxing, at one point he even considered pursuing a career in the sport.

By 1978, Justin had graduated from an apprentice with Norwich, signing his first professional contract a month before making his debut. His first appearance came in January 1979 against West Bromwich Albion.

Over the next three seasons, Fashanu would make over 100 appearances for the Canaries, scoring 40 goals. This included the 1980 BBC Goal of the Season for a sensational strike against Liverpool.

Despite scoring 19 league goals in the 1980/81 season, Norwich were relegated and Fashanu demanded a move. He got his wishes, securing a move to Nottingham Forest, becoming the first British man sold for a transfer fee of over £1,000,000.

Forest were one of the best sides in England at the time under the stewardship of legendary managed Brian Clough. Clough heard rumours of Fashanu visiting gay clubs and soon their relationship broke down, Fashanu being banned from training with the first team as a result of his sexuality.

Whilst Clough is remembered for his incredible career as a manager, it is safe to say he was a man of his time, as this memory of a conversation he had with Fashanu, from Clough’s autobiography, suggests, “'Where do you go if you want a loaf of bread?' I asked him. 'A baker's, I suppose.' 'Where do you go if you want a leg of lamb?' 'A butcher's.' 'So why do you keep going to that bloody poofs' club?"

After falling out with his manager, Fashanu moved to Southampton on loan, despite impressing at the Saints, he was unable to secure a full-time contract due to financial constraints. Eventually, he was able to get his break from Forest, signing with local rivals, Notts County.

After an up-and-down spell for County, Fashanu spent the next few years on the move, playing in Canada and the US, as well as spells at Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion.

By 1990, the rumours of Fashanu’s sexuality were rife, bravely, Justin tried to get ahead of the rumours, publicly coming out in an interview with the press, becoming the first professional footballer in Britain to do so. The interview was printed under the headline, "£1m Football Star: I AM GAY".

Fashanu was immediately targeted by opposing supporters, targeting him for his sexuality. Despite his teammates seemingly mostly accepting him, Fashanu was often the victim of malicious bullying as a result.

During this period, Justin had spoken to his younger brother John, also a professional footballer. John had told Justin he would give him £75,000 to keep his sexual orientation a secret.

John Fashanu made his feelings about his brother clear in an interview following his public statements. John said, “suffer the consequences” for his decision to come out publicly and that he would “not want to play or even get changed with him”.

Justin never regained a foothold in professional football, bouncing from team to team, trying his luck in Sweden, Scotland, America and New Zealand but never able to make much of an impact.

In early 1998, Fashanu was accused by a seventeen-year-old of sexual assault as the youth slept in Fashanu’s apartment in Ellicott City, Maryland where homosexual acts were illegal until 1999. Fashanu firmly denied these allegations but fled the country before his arrest.

Upon fleeing the States, Fashanu broke into a garage in Shoreditch, London were he was found dead having hanged himself. He left a note proclaiming his innocence, stating, “I realised that I had already been presumed guilty. I do not want to give any more embarrassment to my friends and family.”

John Fashanu made a series of comments about his older brother, admitting he had been a “monster” to his brother, but ultimately he thought he was doing the right thing by attempting to stop the interview where Justin came out, “We didn't know what to do, the best thing I thought to do was to keep it quiet.”

In 2008, a group set up to raise awareness around homophobia in football used Justin’s name in an attempt to make the game a more inclusive place for LGBTQ+ players.

Justin Fashanu’s life was a complicated one, never able to settle in one place amidst rumours of his sexuality, targeted by coaches, players and fans throughout his career, ultimately it was too much for him to handle. Despite his bravery, his decision to come out hasn’t paved the way for others, with only one more British footballer coming out as gay since his interview in 1990.