Josh Cavallo opens up on joining Peterborough Sports, playing non league and what fans can expect, with his signing a popular one with fans.
The 25 year old made headlines in October 2021 after becoming the first openly gay male footballers playing professional in top-flight football, playing for Adelaide United at the time.
He was fully supported by management and his fellow teammates, with his announcement being widely reported in the worldwide press.
Cavallo received messages of support from many players past and present, including the likes of Gerard Piqué, Marcus Rashford, Antoine Griezmann, Jordan Henderson, Gary Lineker, and Lionel Messi, and many others, including fans and such celebrities as Lil Nas X and Ellen DeGeneres.
Cavallo was the first high-profile player to come out during their career since English footballer Justin Fashanu made a similar announcement in 1990, only to face widespread homophobia after coming out.
In May 2022, English footballer Jake Daniels came out, aged 17, becoming the UK’s only male professional footballer to be publicly out at the time, and the first since Fashanu. He thanked Cavallo among those who had helped him to come out publicly.
In March 2024, Cavallo proposed to his partner Leighton Morrell on the pitch at Coopers Stadium, Adelaide United’s home ground, also thanking his club for their support and encouragement to live his life authentically.
Four years after his time at Australia’s A-League side Adelaide, he has now opted for life in England, signing with National League North club Peterborough Sports.
He said that he drawn to the UK, describing it as the “home of football,” and also liked the club’s character and ambition, prioritising a welcoming environment over other professional opportunities in Europe.
Cavallo, is now excited to test himself in the physical non-league football scene, aiming to make an impact both on and off the pitch, inspiring others to feel welcomed in the sport.
He highlighted the club’s supportive culture and his desire to score “whippets of goals” with his strong left foot, expressing enthusiasm for living his dream and elevating the team.
He said to Sky Sports’ Mark McAdam: “It was a big decision in the making, and it’s an exciting one for me to come down here to Peterborough Sports.
“For me, it was there was a lot of options on the table to go around worldwide, especially in different countries.
“And, obviously, as you know that the UK was high priority on my list, and that’s somewhere that I’ve dreamed to live.
“For me, what caught my attention is the character of the club, and that’s somewhere where I wanna be at.
“See what’s come off it. We’ve made pride history. We’ve made pride events where the first pride game in in Australian football has come off, me coming out.
“And there’s been crazy milestones that we’ve done in the last four or five years, and it’s just phenomenal to see that all came from a video that I’ve posted on social media.
“And for me, the most important thing is the impact that’s happening happening to the wider community, to the next person, to the next person that wants to put on their boots and play football to feel welcomed.
“And I’m just living proof that that can happen.
‘I know what I’m getting myself into, but it’s the best part of it.
‘I wanna get through the thick of it, get myself right in the mind and get involved and to show that, you know, that that is place is an impressive league to also grow together and use as a stepping stone.
“And for me, as I said, I had other options and other opportunities in professional football throughout England and Europe.
“But for me, it was that wasn’t a priority. It was to find a place where they love me for who I am and, we can grow together and I love the ambition of this football club and how they wanna grow.
“So it’s not the club with the biggest money in the league, but this is someone that can turn heads, and I’m surprised a lot of people.
“And that’s the reason why I’ve come halfway across the world to play for a club like this because I believe in them, like, they believe in me.
“And I’ll stand with them on and off the field, and they’ll do the same with me.
“And that’s something that they’ve said to me, and and they’re gonna be proven to me.
“And it’s really nice to be in a community and a family that that does that and represents that and be proud of who I am as a person.
Asked what to expect of him, he replied: “Score some whippets of the goals. I’ve got a nasty long shot on me, so I’m excited to show everyone what that’s about. I’m on the left peg, but, yeah, I’m super excited.
“Mark, this is something for me that, I’ve been waiting for a long time, and now it feels like I’m living my dream out here.
“And I’m so excited to bring this team up with me and show them what I’m about and take them to the next level and to show that it is possible to live your dream out.
“And, you know, for that little Joshy that was looking in the mirror when he was younger and didn’t think that this is possible, I’m literally living my dream day in day out, and I wanna show for the next person that you can do the exact same thing no matter who you are, where you come from.”
Twitter users reacted as Josh Cavallo spoke on joining Peterborough Sports, playing non league and what fans can expect…
@will_stanser: What a signing that is 🤯😮
@pufcnathan_: Absolutely huge
@RobGWarren4: Yeah that’s a mad one.
@squeezefootball: their recruitment this Summer has been really interesting & outside the box. love to see clubs doing that.
@PeterScholes55: That’s a huge signing for that league
@Orda_CS: A quality player for the level for sure.
@KaiLeitch_: How the fuck
@stewart_jones10: That’s a class signing to be fair 👊
@theposhfan: Hell of a signing for that level. The kid has a huge following, which can only be a good thing in growing Sports.
@lfraserbell: some signing that fucking hell
@CestrianJames: Surely one of the biggest signings ever in the sixth tier? Not just a coup in terms of the fact he’s played in the Australian top-flight, but also a household name with a huge global following. Hope he receives nothing but respect from players and supporters. Also worth noting that Jake Daniels might be in line for an NLN move, after a strong spell with Rylands last year. Signing Cavallo is itself a landmark for inclusivity in the English game; having him and Daniels play against each other in a match would be an even bigger one.
@JasonTendring: Fantastic signing
@devilfists: Incredible signing for our club.
@jjoshoo: That’s actually unreal for NLN, and a very well known name too
@TheDeckNL: Not fifth tier related, but how on earth have they managed to pull this off. That is an outstanding move 👏🏻
@TheMemphisEra: Dunno how you lot struck this deal but fair play, top player when I have tapped into the odd Adelaide game. Will do wonders
