JUSTIN FASHANU, Britain’s first and only out gay male professional footballer, has been posthumously inducted into the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame.

Fashanu was recognised at a ceremony on Wednesday at the museum in central Manchester.

The award celebrates those who have made an outstanding contribution to the sport and comes 22 years after the former Norwich City and Nottingham Forest striker took his own life.

He died in 1998, eight turbulent years after coming out publicly in a national newspaper.

Fashanu’s niece Amal, who runs the foundation in her uncle’s name received the award on what would have been her uncle’s 59th birthday.

The Foundation has been set up to highlight the issues of homophobia and other forms of discrimination in both grassroots football and the professional game, while also aiming to raise the participation of LGBT people in football.

Fashanu will always have a special place in the hearts of Norwich City supporters.

Only last Saturday (February 15) in the match against Liverpool, fans unveiled a special banner on to mark the 40th anniversary of Fashanu’s wonder goal against the Anfield club.

Fashanu scored the sensational flick and volley in a First Division game at Carrow Road in February 1980 which Liverpool ended up winning 5-3. The strike went on to be named Goal of the Season and has become part of Norwich folklore.