Last update on. From the section FA CupMatt Morton, Thetford Town's player-manager, and Lorenzo, his partner, have been together 18 monthsMatt Morton's thoughts raced in his head as he pressed send on Thetford Town WhatsApp group chat.What would his teammates think? Did he feel he was about to be exiled? He would have to look for a new club. He had done the right thing.After realizing he was gay at 31 years old, Morton took to social media to tell his fellow players of the ninth-tier Norfolk club.His mobile phone rang with responses within minutes of pressing send.One player wrote, "I'm tremendously proud of your for following your heart," Another participant wrote, "It's not going to change our feelings about you. We love you so much.Although Thetford's team accepted the news that one of their own had made the difficult decision to disclose his sexuality, his parents weren't so open at first.My mum was laughing so hard. She ran out of her room screaming, "You're not gay, you have had girlfriends." He said, "No, no, no," to BBC Sport.Morton was first seen with his Thetford teammates on 22 July 2019. He has now been named player-manager external link at Eastern Counties Premier Division club. They are away to Arlesey Town for the additional preliminary round FA Cup.The 34-year old hopes that sharing his story will help others in similar situations like Jahmal Howlett–Mundle, defender for Sheppey United, who disclosed last month to his Sheppey United teammates that he was bisexual. External-linkIn September 2019, Morton was named Thetford Town's player-manager. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, he has yet to manage a full season."It scared me out"Morton was a very social child growing up. He spent his 20s in and between relationships.He said, "The longest was probably one-year and that happened twice." I cared about my girlfriends. Although I felt affection for them all, I never fell in love with them.After being attracted to an Instagram user, Morton began to question his sexuality in January 2018.He said, "When we met face-to-face, it was the feeling that you have growing up when it is your first love, or your first date."Morton was still three months away from being his personal assistant at work."I was still processing it all and wondering if I was gay or if this is just one guy. "Why hasn’t this ever happened before?" This is a phase?"It freaked me out a bit, to be honest."The reason I didn't tell anyone was because my relationship ended, and it was driving you insane." It was the lowest point of my life."Morton was not confident enough to tell a female friend or best friend for a year, his sister, cousins and team-mates for another year.His parents Olga and Kelvin were last on his list. It was intentional. He said, "They're both very old-fashioned."The conversation didn't go as planned.Morton realized he was gay at 31 years old in January 2018."I didn't talk to my mom for three months."From 1986 to 1995, Morton's father Kelvin was a referee for the Premier League and Football League. He was the one to give five penalties within 27 minutes of an external-link match between Crystal Palace & Brighton in 1989.Olga, his mother, is a Belfast native and "very religious". Morton, the youngest of the three children, said that he would make comments if a homosexual person appeared on television while growing up in the family home."Elton John is one my dad's favorite artistes, but he'd say something along the lines of "I really like his songs, it's shame he’s gay."Both parents were unable to accept the information Morton shared about his sexuality.He said that Mum had told him, "I won't accept this, I won't accept, it will never be accepted""."My response was, "Well you won't accept me." My father said, "I love you, but I'm struggling to accept this."Morton didn't speak to his mother for three more months. He said, "I thought they'd gone,"Morton's broken relationship with his parents and rifts between them have been repaired.Lorenzo, Morton’s partner for the last 18 months, was invited to join Kelvin and Olga.Morton describes himself to be an "old-fashioned", centre-half"Chairman wept when I told him,"Morton, a rare man in the men's football game, is a gay footballer who came out.Justin Fashanu, a male footballer who played professionally in the highest tiers of the game for three decades, is still the only one to openly reveal his sexuality.Morton will continue to tell his story, but believes that a Premier League player would be able to "impact so many lives" and reduce suicides.He said that suicide is the biggest killer of men aged 45-45 in the UK, and that sexuality contributes to it."I would recommend to anyone who is struggling to get help from someone they trust. Although I am a strong person, I also have a lot of personality. I needed to talk to someone. No one can do everything by themselves."People reached out to me via social media, and I have replied. "I'll keep doing that."Since his coming out, Morton has felt touched by all the kind messages of support.He said, "I am vain. I pay attention to my appearance, I go to gym, and I worry about how my hair looks." "I had more homophobic comments directed at me before coming out than any other homophobic comments.Jose Santa de La Paz from Needham Market came up to me last season, and asked if I was Matt Morton. "I just wanted to shake your hands."Who is Thetford Town? John Taylor, assistant manager, was a player with Dion Dublin at Cambridge. He came on against Lakenheath as a substitute. Quevin Castro, a new West Brom signing, scored five goals in 40 matches for Thetford Town in 2018-19 at the age 17 years. Mulbarton Wanderers forward Adam Plumstead, who suffered a fracture to his fibula and tibia in a match in April, was supported by Thetford's players. England T20 cricket fast-bowler Tymal Mills was a player for Thetford Town's Under-18 team. Ian Henderson, an ex-Norwich forward, is also a former Thetford player. He is now at Salford.However, there have been some negative comments from outside."I was told by a player from another club that he wouldn't play at Thetford because Matt's gay." It bothered me," Nigel Armes (62-year-old chairman of Thetford), who wept when Morton came out."Matt is a well-mannered and well-spoken man. I admire him. I got a little emotional. Matt was reassured by me that he had my full support. It's his life and business."Morton, a director at Amplify, a new app for health, wellness and fitness, describes himself as "happy" and "getting on top of life".He said, "I spent 18 years from the moment that I realized I was gay to when I told my family and friends.""If there is one thing I regret, it's not that I could have told them sooner. But we are all different."
