Zander Murray is preparing for the next stage of his life after his playing career in football comes to an end. Murray made headlines in 2022 when he became the first senior Scottish player to come out as gay. After that, he embarked on a personal journey which brought him to the point of looking ahead to a future beyond football, which has dominated his life for years.
According to Murray, “The big thing is, it’s my final season as a footballer. I think you just know when your time is up and that’s where I’m at. You just know when the right time is.” With over 100 goals scored, Murray put his mark on Lowland league side Gala Fairydean Rovers. He then signed for Bonnyrigg Rose, fulfilling his life-long ambition to play in the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL).
As Murray struggled with his sexuality for years, he realized that coming out would be difficult in the world of football. It wasn’t until he spoke to his family in 2021 that he took another 18 months before he told the rest of the world through a Facebook post. Despite the challenges, he feels overwhelmed by the support he’s received from Gala, where he returned to play out the rest of his career, helping him to feel safe and secure, on and off the pitch.
Zander has been busy since coming out. He was delighted to lead Edinburgh’s Pride march last year after struggling for so long to know where he fitted in, particularly as a football player. This has led him to become involved with footballing academies and clubs where he talks to young players about homophobia and inclusivity. He has been working with “Time for Inclusive Education” (TIE), visiting youth teams all over Scotland. He also helped host the Gay Games in Hong Kong last year.
Murray is currently considering coaching women’s football and is busy doing corporate speaking events, where he talks about his experiences and issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community. He hopes that his story will encourage other gay players to come out, but he realizes the challenges that they face. As Murray says, “When I get thanked by someone for doing this, I realize I see myself keeping on. And as long as I can help even one person, I’ll never give up.
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