Thursday 28 September 2017 12:05, UK
Former Leeds United winger Robbie Rogers has become a patron of the club's MarchingOutTogether initiative for LGBT+ fans.
The MarchingOutTogether group for Leeds fans who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender was endorsed by the Sky Bet Championship club back in August.
Rogers left Leeds in January 2013 after spending just over a year at Elland Road. He made only four league appearances for the club as issues with injuries and form curbed his progress.
He later chose to retire from football after announcing he was gay in a personal blog post, but returned to the game back in his homeland with Los Angeles Galaxy a few months later.
Rogers went on to win the MLS Cup with the Galaxy in 2014, becoming the first openly gay athlete to win a major team title in professional sport in the United States.
Now 30, the former USA international says LGBT fan groups like the one at Leeds are helping to make football more inclusive.
He told the club's official website: "I am delighted to accept the invitation to become a patron of MarchingOutTogether and to renew my connection with Leeds United.
"I received a warm welcome from the Leeds fans before a match when I returned to Elland Road a few years ago as an openly gay man, but football still faces a huge challenge to overcome homophobia in all parts of the game.
"I am passionate about playing my role in combating homophobia and other forms of discrimination in sport and football generally, and I believe the recent growth of LGBT fan groups is an important part of this campaign.
"I would like to wish MarchingOutTogether every success and I look forward to playing my part as their patron."
