Millwall Romans' Paul Loding has featured on the EFL website.
Read the full story below:
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After once fearing ostracization in the sport he had followed since childhood, Paul Loding now thrives at the helm of Millwall Football Club’s affiliated LGBT team — finding solace in the very game he once felt compelled to leave.
Paul, an estate agent by day and long-time football fan, grew up in a football-centric household, and became an avid spectator and grassroots player.
As a teenager, he stepped away from playing for a few years before returning to mainstream teams, and eventually making the decisive step to join the Millwall Romans –formerly known as Millwall Pride.
“Growing up, I loved football,” Paul explained. “I played grassroots but never felt fully comfortable. When I found an LGBTQ+ team, it was the first time I felt I could be myself on the pitch.
“It was the first time I’d found a group of people who shared my experiences – not just in football, but in life.”
Meanwhile, at home, the East Londoner felt bound to masking his sexuality, hiding his partner – now husband – from his loved ones, afraid of how they may react.
In fact, for years he presented himself as in a committed heterosexual relationship, which led to ongoing interrogation from family members.
“My mum kept asking when I was going to introduce her. Then at Christmas she’d send bras and knickers and say, ‘You’ve got to buy her something — what’s her size?’ So I’d turn up to my now husband with this gift saying, ‘This is from my mum.’”
After concealing a part of his identity for many years, Paul felt he could no longer hide in the shadows. He courageously came out to his family, but regrettably lost contact with his dad for a time.
“I came out later than most,” he admitted. “I’d been with my partner for years before my family knew.
“My dad struggled at first, but he still told me I was his son and he loved me, but he was just struggling to adapt to it.
“Since then, he’s been on his own journey. We’ve had discussions in which he’s told me he got it wrong and should never have reacted the way he did.
“My dad’s an old school football and beer bloke, so it took him time to understand — which makes his support now even bigger.
“He and my husband get on so well now they sometimes leave me out of the loop. My parents go straight to him.”
After Paul became manager of the Millwall Romans, the LGBTQ+ side became more than just a hobby — it became a chance for father and son to reconnect, with his dad becoming their greatest ally, showing up week after week and spending more time side by side running the team.
“The whole team calls him ‘Dad’ now — he chats to everyone,” he continued. “Now he comes to almost every game I play — rain, wind, whatever.”
‘A genuine partnership’
Fast forward to 2020, when the Millwall Community Trust — the charitable arm of Millwall Football Club — approached the team with a collaborative partnership that offered full support while ensuring the club remained entirely independent. The Community Trust’s ethos was support without takeover, providing everything from pitches, kits and equipment to the means to travel.
Recounting his initial talks with Sean Daly, the CEO of Millwall Community Trust, Paul shared: “As soon as I sat down with Millwall, I asked what we could do for them. Sean immediately replied, ‘No – what can I do for you?’ That changed everything.
“Sean made it clear from the start: this had to be a genuine partnership — our club, supported equally by Millwall. From day one, Millwall offered everything, even a minibus. “They never tried to take over. We run the club independently, and Millwall supports us however we need.
“When the partnership launched, the media interest was huge — but Millwall never pressured us. Everything was our choice. Sean still checks in regularly, always asking what more he can do.”
They’ve been absolutely brilliant with us’ — Millwall fans’ reaction
Beyond the Club itself, Paul says the response from Millwall supporters has been overwhelmingly positive.
“We’ve had nothing but positive feedback from Millwall fans — they’ve been absolutely brilliant with us, with no negativity at all,” he said.
He recalls conversations that left a lasting impression: “We’ve had Millwall fans come over to us and say, ‘It’s brilliant what you’re doing.’ Every conversation has been supportive.”
