Out manager who led club to promotion says being gay in football not a ‘no-no’
Out gay manager Luke Tuffs (Image: Instagram/ashfordtownmx)
Out gay manager Luke Tuffs who led Ashford Town (Middlesex FC) to the Combined Counties Premier Division North title and promotion back to the eighth tier of English football says being gay in football is no longer “an absolute no-no”.
Ashford sealed the championship on the final day of the season, with more than 300 fans at the club’s Robert Parker Stadium for the victory and trophy lift. The club had been relegated a year earlier, before going straight back up as champions at the first time of asking.
Tuffs reflected on the achievement on a new Football v Homophobia Podcast episode, saying: “We’ve gone straight back up as champions, we’ve got a bit of momentum, and the club has got itself back on the map again, which is great.”
Tuffs is out as gay since he was a teenager at the same semi-pro level. He came out to his teammates when he was 16, and they had his back.
The football manager also spoke about wanting to be open about his sexuality while keeping the focus on the sport, as reported by Out Sports.
“I was quite transparent because I want to help others, certainly younger people, but people of all ages,” he said. “But I think it got to the point, in the last couple of years, where that was almost taking over. It became a bit of a circus, in some ways.”
Visibility in men’s football
Openly LGBTQ+ men are still uncommon in men’s football, and visibility is often concentrated among a small number of players and advocates. Football v Homophobia is a long-running UK initiative and platform that campaigns against homophobia and transphobia in football and supports inclusion.
Tuffs spoke about when dressing-room comments cross a line, saying: “The way I’ve always said it is, does it come from a place of love or hate? And if it comes from a place of hate, then yes, it gets stamped out.”
He added: “The progress is that now everyone’s OK, for the most part, to be who they are in their own dressing rooms, and with their friends.
“I think that’s really key. When we were growing up, the thought of saying you were gay to your contemporaries was an absolute no-no.
“But there are academy boys coming through now who are just themselves, and that’s fantastic.”
Title win and a quick turnaround
Ashford marked the achievement on social media. The title win completed a swift turnaround for Ashford after last season’s relegation, restoring the club to the eighth tier.
Tuffs is in his second run in charge at Ashford and was first appointed as a first-team coach at 29.
During the 2025/26 season, Tuffs and his partner Rhys became foster parents. “We’re so lucky to have two amazing kids. They’re the world,” he said, describing the support he has felt around the club.
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