Perhaps inspired by Thomas Hitzlsperger, British semi-pro footballer, Liam Davis has kicked the closet door open.

Midfielder for Gainsborough Trinity, Liam Davis told local newspaper the Lincolnshire Echo why he courageously decided  to come out at the beginning of his career.

“At the age of 23 I like to think that I’ve got a good number of years left in the game and a lot of time to make a stand. I personally hope that over the next 10 years I’m not the only gay footballer out there,” he explained.

Speaking about closeted athletes, he said, “Nobody wants to be forced out, but I hope they can look and see there is someone out there who has done it. I hope we can get to a stage where it is not a bad thing, that there is no problem [with being gay] and people just get on with it.”

While Davis has never publicly discussed his sexuality before, he has been open when asked about it by his team mates and has never experienced any homophobia. “It turned out they all knew from the first day I was at training,” he admitted.

“That is the one thing I will say I really enjoy about playing for Gainsborough, is that it is a very close knit group of lads, Some of them have known each other for years and the others that come in are made to feel welcome, nobody is made to feel an outcast.”

Davis has been playing for Gainsborough Trinity since last Summer.