Some of the fun in winning a championship is the celebration and bragging rights that come with the trophy. But for the Hotscots (photo), there’s little of that to be had. Scotland’s only gay football team won the Gay National League Cup over the weekend, but because everyone on their roster is not out, the team tamped down any public celebration of the title.

It's a real shame some of our lads have not come out yet so [they] cannot bask fully in the limelight. Some of the guys are teachers and policemen and still do not feel comfortable with being publicly outed.You wouldn't think this is the 21st century, would you?

Some of the fun in winning a championship is the celebration and bragging rights that come with the trophy. But for the Hotscots (photo), there’s little of that to be had. Scotland’s only gay football team won the Gay National League Cup over the weekend, but because everyone on their roster is not out, the team tamped down any public celebration of the title.

It's a real shame some of our lads have not come out yet so [they] cannot bask fully in the limelight. Some of the guys are teachers and policemen and still do not feel comfortable with being publicly outed.You wouldn't think this is the 21st century, would you?

That's the take of club chairman Kevin Rowe, who formed the team two years ago and despite the lack of public celebration is certainly toasting the team's championship.

If you'd have told me when I formed the club, that under two years later we'd have won the national league cup, I wouldn't have believed you. We're capable of playing better football, however where before we may have crumbled under pressure, the experience of the team is starting to tell, and we did so well today to win through. The club was formed to give gay people a chance to get back into the sport, and winning this trophy is proof that we have come such a long way in a little space of time.

It's a shame that some members of the team can't fully enjoy their accomplishments. But it's not surprising. Even after two years of covering gay sports leagues in Atlanta, I still run into athletes who ask that their photo not be taken for fear of being outed to friends and co-workers.

Matt Hennie blogs on Atlanta's gay sports scene (and other stuff) at Project Q Atlanta.