Aman Dosanj
Encyclopedia
Amanprit "Aman" Kaur Dosanj is a former English
football goalkeeper. In playing for England
U-16s, she became the first British Asian
footballer, of either gender, to represent England at any level.
Dosanj was later employed by the Football Association as an ambassador for the 'Football For All' and 'Kick It Out' campaigns.
) aged ten and was coached by former England goalkeeper Sue Buckett. At 16 Dosanj signed for Arsenal Ladies
, the team she supported as a child. She juggled training and playing with studying for her A-levels.
In 2002, 18-year-old Dosanj won a scholarship to Lee University
in Cleveland. Dosanj's goalkeeping career was later hampered by a lack of height and a serious knee injury.
U-16s in a five-nations tournament in Dublin. In doing so she notably became the first British Asian
to play football for England at any level. Dosanj described her international debut as "the proudest and most memorable day of my life."
Dosanj later indicated a willingness to play international football for India
.
footballers, and in 2004 she was employed by the FA as an ambassador. She was presented with a certificate by FA chief executive Mark Palios
. Although Dosanj herself never suffered racism while playing in England
or the United States
, she became a prominent anti-racism campaigner, speaking out against racism in football while working for the Kick It Out initiative.
The football career of Dosanj - a Sikh
- was likened to that of Parminder Nagra
's character in the 2002 film Bend it like Beckham
. Nagra said of Dosanj: "I think it is brilliant that there is someone out there who is so close to the story, who is going out to the States and pursuing her dream. Good for Aman, I hope she does really well."
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
football goalkeeper. In playing for England
England women's national football team
The England women's national football team represents England in international women's football. The side has been quite successful of late, qualifying for three World Cups, 1995, 2007 and 2011...
U-16s, she became the first British Asian
British Asian
British Asian is a term used to describe British citizens who descended from mainly South Asia, also known as South Asians in the United Kingdom...
footballer, of either gender, to represent England at any level.
Dosanj was later employed by the Football Association as an ambassador for the 'Football For All' and 'Kick It Out' campaigns.
Club career
At the age of six, Dosanj was the only female player in her school football team. She joined Red Star Southampton (later Southampton SaintsSouthampton Saints L.F.C.
Southampton Saints Girls and Ladies Football Club is an English women's football club formerly affiliated with Southampton F.C.. They play in the South West Combination Women's Football League, after winning the Southern Region Women's Footbal League in 2009–10.The club is descended from the...
) aged ten and was coached by former England goalkeeper Sue Buckett. At 16 Dosanj signed for Arsenal Ladies
Arsenal L.F.C.
Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal F.C.. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 34 major trophies to date; which are 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 11 FA Women's Cups, ten...
, the team she supported as a child. She juggled training and playing with studying for her A-levels.
In 2002, 18-year-old Dosanj won a scholarship to Lee University
Lee University
Lee University is an American accredited, private, four-year liberal arts college located in Cleveland, Tennessee, United States. It is historically affiliated with the Church of God, a Pentecostal denomination, and was the denomination's Bible Training School from 1918 until 1947, when the name...
in Cleveland. Dosanj's goalkeeping career was later hampered by a lack of height and a serious knee injury.
International career
In April 1999, while playing for Southampton Saints' reserve team, Dosanj represented EnglandEngland women's national football team
The England women's national football team represents England in international women's football. The side has been quite successful of late, qualifying for three World Cups, 1995, 2007 and 2011...
U-16s in a five-nations tournament in Dublin. In doing so she notably became the first British Asian
British Asian
British Asian is a term used to describe British citizens who descended from mainly South Asia, also known as South Asians in the United Kingdom...
to play football for England at any level. Dosanj described her international debut as "the proudest and most memorable day of my life."
Dosanj later indicated a willingness to play international football for India
India women's national football team
The India women's national football team is controlled by the All India Football Federation and represents India in women's international football competitions. The women's football scene didn't have the same chance to spread as the mens' game did, and thus the team struggles to keep up with more...
.
Personal life
Dosanj's Indian parentage made her a role model for aspiring British AsianBritish Asian
British Asian is a term used to describe British citizens who descended from mainly South Asia, also known as South Asians in the United Kingdom...
footballers, and in 2004 she was employed by the FA as an ambassador. She was presented with a certificate by FA chief executive Mark Palios
Mark Palios
Mark Palios is an English chartered accountant, football administrator and former professional footballer. He studied Psychology at Manchester University....
. Although Dosanj herself never suffered racism while playing in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
or the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, she became a prominent anti-racism campaigner, speaking out against racism in football while working for the Kick It Out initiative.
The football career of Dosanj - a Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
- was likened to that of Parminder Nagra
Parminder Nagra
Parminder Kaur Nagra is an English actress of Indian descent. She came to international prominence in 2002 after starring in Bend It Like Beckham. She starred as Dr. Neela Rasgotra in the Emmy Award-winning American medical drama series ER for six years until the series ended on 2 April 2009...
's character in the 2002 film Bend it like Beckham
Bend It Like Beckham
Bend It Like Beckham is a 2002 comedy-drama film starring Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Myers, Anupam Kher, Shaznay Lewis, and Archie Panjabi first released in the United Kingdom. The film was directed by Gurinder Chadha...
. Nagra said of Dosanj: "I think it is brilliant that there is someone out there who is so close to the story, who is going out to the States and pursuing her dream. Good for Aman, I hope she does really well."