Justin Fashanu

[Jacks Jackie Jackson]

I'm currently having an online discussion with someone on another (non football) forum regarding Justin Fashanu. I get the impression this guy is trying to promote the idea that the sex case against Fashanu had nothing to do with his resulting suicide but was as a result of abuse relating to his being black and openly gay. I don't remember him being subject to any homophobic abuse at the time but I could be wrong. I've read up on his life and tragic death on Wikipedia and other on-line resources but can anyone here shed any light on this? Did he come in for homophobic abuse? I can't remember being aware he was gay, certainly not during his time with Norwich and Forrest but again, I could be wrong. Any aul' arses remember this tragic player and the case at the time?

[R A Softlad]

He didn't come out until after he retired I think. He was a foster kid and had suffered abuse as a child so he'd had a lot to deal with. Can't honestly remember much about the abuse case/allegations.

[smithdown]

Never heard anything like that at the time when he was playing.

[Jacks Jackie Jackson]

Never heard anything like that at the time when he was playing.

 

That's exactly what I thought. In fact, I remember being on the Kop and thinking how unfair it was that John was getting the stick for his brother's coming out. The song, as I recall, went (to the tune of Sammy Lee's glorification) "He shot, he come, all over Vinnie's bum, Fashanu, Fashanu."

[smithdown]

To be fair though, he didn't play that much of his career at the top level so I don't know how he got on in the lower leagues. He disappeared off the ol' radar pretty sharpish.

 

I know he got shifted from club to club after Clough got onto him though.

[Crazy Horse]

Tragic story all right.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt3q8_sxd-o

[SkippyjonJones]

he was definatley out before he retired.

I went to one match he played in – Colchester vs Torquay. I was in with the Colchester fans and he was getting a lot of stick – mainly for being useless!! Although there was obviously some nasty chants going on as the main thing I recall from the match was that there was an announcement from the police at half time that racist chants would not be tolerated and fans would be rejected or arrested for racist chanting. So we spend the whole of the second half calling Colchesters right back a useless white b*****d….

 

 

I don’t recall anyone caring if he was gay or not.

[RP]

Although there was obviously some nasty chants going on as the main thing I recall from the match was that there was an announcement from the police at half time that racist chants would not be tolerated and fans would be rejected or arrested for racist chanting. So we spend the whole of the second half calling Colchesters right back a useless white b*****d….

 

 

That not being at all racist in any way?

[SkippyjonJones]

That not being at all racist in any way?

er yes. that was kind of the point. not that the police then did anything.

[Stevie H]

i remember reading years back that when he went to play for hearts he had to have a separate shower from the other players. don't know if that was gospel or not like.

[cymrococh]

I remember watching a documentary about him and he was definitely out when he was playing semi-pro. He was having a laugh with his teamates about it.

[floyd]

That Goal of the Season he got against us, ruined him.

[cymrococh]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Fashanu

 

His brother's a c*nt, and this

A decade after his death, Justin Fashanu is still the only professional footballer in the world to disclose that he was gay.

is still incredible.

[Murphman]

A good friend of mine grew up with Justin, went to school with him in Norfolk. He reckons Justin was highly sought after by the local birds and was fighting the girls off with a stick, he was amazed to discover he was gay so I doubt he was very 'overt' about it.

[owenthomas]

when me and my mates were growing up any hole was a goal - if one of my mates started fighting girls off with a stick i'd have known he was gay!

[Jacks Jackie Jackson]

I am astonished to read that Fashanu is still the only professional footballer in the world to come out as gay. My cousin Julie was a hairdresser at Herberts in Liverpool throughout the 80s and 90s and would tell me tales of which players were known to be gay and even of two blues who were known to be partners.

[Stevie H]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Fashanu

 

His brother's a c*nt, and this

is still incredible.

remember one of the football agents saying a few years back that one of the main reasons players don't come out is that it impacts their chances of securing transfers to other clubs. which is ridiculous and sad.

[RP]

ridiculous and sad.

 

 

That pretty much sums up footballers though, doesn't it?

[Stevie H]

That pretty much sums up footballers though, doesn't it?

i think i still prefer 'c*nts'.

[RP]

Fair comment.

[smithdown]

Whatever happened with that court case, I suppose it will always hang over him now.

[Spiblish]

unbelievable that he is still the only one to come out - I have been told of a current blues**** player who is married bau in a gay relationship!

 

source - his partners mother!!!

[Hassony]

Why do they have to come out though? Maybe they are just happy to keep their sexuality away from the public eye.

[Dee]

Whatever happened with that court case, I suppose it will always hang over him now.

poor choice of words

[Hassony]

poor choice of words

that was the point I think