Podcaster takes top prize in Media category at sixth annual event celebrating LGBTQ+ inclusion in football
By Jon Holmes, FWA national committee
The FWA-sponsored Football Media category at the annual Football v Homophobia Awards has been won this year by podcaster and journalist Jack Murley.
“The Jack Murley Sports Show”, previously known as the BBC LGBT+ Sport Podcast, has been running since September 2018 and recently passed through the 400th episode milestone.
Jack’s football guests in the last year or so have included FIFA World Cup history-maker Jaiyah Saelua, the American Samoa defender made famous by the “Next Goal Wins” documentary and movie; former England goalkeeper Carly Telford; and players from Stonewall FC, the world’s most successful LGBTQ+ inclusive club.
Jack, who is based in Cornwall, was honoured at the sixth staging of the Awards event, held in Glasgow last Friday night.
With The Football Association as headline sponsors, more than 200 people gathered to celebrate achievements related to LGBTQ+ inclusion in the sport.
Via a video message, Jack told the guests: “To be nominated was a thrill enough, but to win in this category is something I can barely comprehend.
“I’m sure almost everyone in that room I have badgered, annoyed, frustrated, pestered to try and get on the podcast. You have all been incredibly gracious in indulging me in that over the past seven years.
“I’m grateful to everyone for the support you’ve given the podcast and the difference you all make in football. Everyone in that room has done something to make the beautiful game that we all love more inclusive and more welcoming and a place where the LGBTQ+ community feels like they belong.
“A huge thank you to Football v Homophobia. For someone in my line of work, I’m not often lost for words but I am at the moment, because it means an awful lot to get this. I’ll treasure this award always. Thank you very much.”
Receiving the runners-up award in the Media category was BBC Sport journalist Emma Smith, an FWA member who not only writes about LGBTQ topics in football but also discusses them on the BBC World Service and “The Week Unwrapped” podcast.
Taking bronze was the digital publisher Outsports, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2024 and regularly covers football stories of interest to the LGBTQ community, from empowering player interviews to highlighting incidents of discrimination.
It’s the third year in which the FWA has sponsored the category, underlining the association’s commitment to supporting inclusion across the football media industry.
The FWA also has a partnership with industry network group Sports Media LGBT+. The link-up was formalised in June 2021 with a webinar titled “Taking Pride in your work” that explored the experiences of out LGBTQ+ people and their allies in newsrooms and football spaces.
A follow-up webinar 12 months later looked at the reactions to Jake Daniels’ coming out story, which made the Blackpool player the first out gay player in the British men’s game in over 30 years.
Those conversations were also turned into episodes of the FvH Podcast and in the last two years, there have been editions looking at LGBTQ+ themes around the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the UEFA European Championship.
Sports Media LGBT+’s active core group contains more than 80 sports media professionals and welcomes those who are interested in the benefits of networking and making meaningful connections. Group members regularly offer advice, opportunities and mutual support.
If you’re interested in learning more, check out the SMLGBT+ website – and you can also see more images from the FvH Awards Night via the link in the campaign’s recap article.
A reminder too that the ‘Unheard Voices’ category in the FWA Student Football Writer of the Year Awards is designed for those from under-represented backgrounds, including the LGBTQ+ community. There is a £1,000 cash prize for each of the winners and the closing date this year is Tuesday 8 April 2025.
See Jack’s message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DG6bOANAfFl/
