20-30-40 years ago, I reckon if a mouthy little gobsh*** well known for berating refs and winding up opposing fans, say in the David Speedie mould, had come out as gay, he would have got dog's abuse, proper nasty and hostile stuff - "You gay bast***" probably among the chants. If it had been somebody in the Trevor Brooking, Ian Callaghan mould, then I would imagine they probably would have been subjected to a lot less than Gordon McQueen got for being a "moron".

Actually, Elton John came out before becoming Watford chairman in the mid 70s and regularly travelled to away games including places like Grimsby and other lower league grounds up north. According to his book, which I've read and it was very good, he was on the receiving end of a chant that went - if I recall it correctly - "He's fat, he's bald, he likes it up the a**e, Elton John, Elton John." which probably gives us some idea of what it might have been like for your average pro.