Gay Ex-Footballer Lived Secretly in LA Motel

Tony Powell, a former Norwich and Bournemouth footballer, lived a secret life for decades, hiding his sexuality due to fear of career repercussions. He spent years living in an LA motel and severed ties with his family for over 35 years, believing they would reject him. This hidden existence and his eventual journey are now the subject of a documentary, 'The Last Guest at the Holloway Motel.'

Powell's story resonates with that of Justin Fashanu, the first openly gay professional footballer in England, who faced severe backlash and ultimately took his own life. Powell himself experienced loneliness and isolation, feeling unable to confide in teammates or friends about his true self during his playing career in the 1970s.

After moving to the US in the early 1980s, Powell came out in a new country but continued to conceal his identity while playing for teams like the San Jose Earthquakes. He managed and lived in the Holloway Motel in West Hollywood for 25 years, finding a sense of community and safety in the gay enclave.

The documentary captures Powell's recent, emotional reunion with his two sisters and his daughters, with whom he had lost contact for decades. While his daughters chose not to be filmed, the reconciliation has been described as positive, with their love for one another evident. Powell also shared a significant relationship with David Castro, whom he cared for during his illness.

Despite progress, both Powell and former US international Robbie Rogers, who also featured in the documentary, express pessimism about the current state of acceptance for gay footballers in England's Premier League, noting that homophobia persists.