Josh Cavallo joins groundbreaking new series about a gay footballer

Australian footballer and LGBTQ+ trailblazer Josh Cavallo, who plays for English club Peterborough Sports, is lending his expertise to a bold new drama that shines a light on one of football’s most taboo subjects: being openly gay in the men’s game.

The upcoming web series, titled Armour, will centre on Harry Slade, a fictional Premier League star whose life is thrown into chaos after intimate messages from a secret hook-up fall into the hands of a tabloid. Faced with the threat of exposure, Slade must decide whether to let the press dictate his story or take control and come out on his own terms.

Created by Tim Reynard, a student at the National Film and Television School, the series draws on Reynard’s own experience growing up as a closeted football fan. “Football has always been in my blood,” he said. “But I rarely saw myself reflected in it. With Armour, we want to tell a story that’s raw, authentic and filled with hope - not just for queer fans craving an idol, but for young players who need a role model.” 

Coming out as a footballer showed me how powerful visibility can be, but it also reminded me how far we still have to go.

Cavallo, who made global headlines in 2021 as one of the first top-flight male footballers to come out while still playing, will act as a consultant to ensure the narrative feels genuine. “Coming out as a footballer showed me how powerful visibility can be, but it also reminded me how far we still have to go,” he said. “I’m thrilled to help make sure the story feels as real and grounded as possible - both in the script and with the actors.” 

The cast includes Jordan Luke Gage as Harry Slade and Alexandra Burke as Lorna, the first Black female manager of a men’s club. The series will run for ten episodes, each around ten minutes long, and will stream for free on YouTube - a move Cavallo believes will make it accessible to young players everywhere.

Filming is scheduled to begin in spring 2026, with production taking place in Yorkshire and Hampshire. Backed by DeCantillon Films, the project promises to tackle themes of identity, media pressure and resilience, while offering a hopeful vision for LGBTQ+ representation in football.