Coming out to family and friends is often a daunting experience for those in the LGBTQ+ community, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on you as you ponder whether you’ll be embraced with acceptance or fall into a pool of rejection.
For Jack Heeley, without the support of Proud Baggies and their regular football gatherings, funded by the Premier League fans fund, he may not have had the courage to try.
Proud Baggies, the club’s LGBTQ+ supporters’ group, began putting on consistent football session at the Academy Dome when Jack was approached to join the group by seat neighbours at The Hawthorns, where he’s a season ticket holder.
Jack at this point, had only revealed to his mum, dad and sister that he was gay, but soon found the spark needed to come out to the rest of his family after joining the group in January of 2023.
“There were two members Vicky and Sarah who sit behind me at The Hawthorns, and they asked whether I wanted to join the Friday night football,” Jack began, detailing his Proud Baggies initiation. “That was in January of last year and I’ve been going to that session ever since.
“It’s helped me meet other LGBTQ+ people and Albion fans. From the moment I walked in I felt that there were people welcoming me.
“We just have a normal kick about but it’s also sociable, we have a chat and have matches too. It depends on numbers but it’s a really great thing to be around every week.
“It helps me improve my football, I’m not a sporty person and I was never interested in football growing up. Since being a West Brom supporter and doing Proud Baggies too, I feel I’m getting better.
“It helped me to open up to my family about who I am. That’s my identity and I can’t thank them enough for giving me the confidence to express that.
“They’ve been so supportive of me, they’re really proud of me, always. I’d already come out to my mum, dad and sister but I was building up the courage to tell the rest of my family about it.
“The people are the best thing about Proud Baggies is the people, they make me feel comfortable to be myself. It’s a safe environment where I can be myself, and a place where I have made genuine friends and gained a social life.”
Proud Baggies, along with their internal football sessions, have branched out to play external friendly fixtures, most notably against Proud Sky Blues and Rainbow Royals, the LGBTQ+ groups for Coventry City and Reading FC.
“We played a friendly fixture in Reading recently; we went on a mini-bus down there and played a few matches. We’d only started training in January it’s been great to see that progression and how we’d got better.
“I love playing against different teams, it’s been interesting to chat to people about what they’ve been through from different places. Mixing with other clubs and learning about them has been great.
“The people are the best thing about Proud Baggies, they make me feel comfortable to be myself.”
After blossoming into a confident person, capable of being himself in every situation, and now with a flourishing social life, what message would Jack give to his former self?
“I was so shy when I joined, going from that to be able to be confident enough to be who I am. Proud Baggies has put a smile on my face.
“I always say, my first session to now, there’s so much improvement in me as a person in that time. I’d just say well done to my former self, and to keep being me and going to Proud Baggies.”
"It has been a long-term ambition for Proud Baggies to have a football team,” Proud Baggies said. “We are extremely grateful for the unwavering support and commitment of both the Foundation and the club in helping us make this a reality.
“The benefits of sport and physical activity to health and wellbeing are well documented and we also know that the LGBTQ+ community often feel excluded from mainstream sports teams. This has been clearly demonstrated in the reception that Proud Baggies has received from the local LGBTQ+ community with over 40 team members signing up in the first few months.
“We look forward to further developing our relationship with the Foundation as our team grows."
Thanks to the Premier League Fans Fund, Jack and his teammates will be able to play their Proud Baggies matches wearing the 24/25 Albion home shirts.