British Asians in association football
Encyclopedia
The term "British Asian
" generally refers to British citizens
who can trace their origin to South Asia
; however, it also refer to those of East Asian origin. The lack of British Asians in association football has received significant media attention, and has seen some clubs announce plans to explicitly target young British Asian players.
were Asian. Current professionals, such as Adnan Ahmed
, have publicly spoken out about the lack of fellow Asians in the sport.
Roger Verdi
, of Indian origin, was forced to change his name because of racism, and had to move to the United States in order to start a professional career.
Zesh Rehman, of Pakistani origin, was the first British Asian to play in the Premiership. Rehman later launched his own Foundation in May 2010, with the intention of helping young British Asians in football.
Anwar Uddin, of Bangladeshi origin, was the first British Asian to captain a side in the top four divisions of English League football. Uddin remains the only player of Bangladeshi origin to turn professional.
, of Chinese heritage, played for the England wartime team
and remains the only player of East Asian heritage to do so.
In August 2007, trials were organised by the Pakistan Football Federation
in Rotherham
, South Yorkshire
for British Pakistanis players to attend a training camp with the Pakistan national team
.
A number of British Asians have represented their secondary nations at international level; a full list can be found below.
and Sporting Bengal United
became the first Asian clubs to play in the FA Cup
in 2005.
In October 2007, clubs in the Football League
began out-reach programmes into Asian communities to attract new fans.
In March 2009, Premier League club Chelsea
announced plans to target young players from Asian communities. Two players found on the trial later signed with Southend United
and Leyton Orient
, and in May 2010 Chelsea launched a second initiative, with the aim to find six young British Asian players.
football fan publicly spoke out about the racism he had encountered at Rangers
.
Research compiled by the Premier League in March 2009 concluded that more British Asians were attending games than ever before.
deals with issues relating to British Asians in football.
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...
" generally refers to British citizens
British nationality law
British nationality law is the law of the United Kingdom that concerns citizenship and other categories of British nationality. The law is complex because of the United Kingdom's former status as an imperial power.-History:...
who can trace their origin to South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
; however, it also refer to those of East Asian origin. The lack of British Asians in association football has received significant media attention, and has seen some clubs announce plans to explicitly target young British Asian players.
Background
In April 2001, Britains of South or East Asian heritage constituted over 55% of the non-white population, or at least 4.4% of the total population. 2007 estimates for England only suggest at leat 7.0% of the English population as being of Asian origin, or 59% of non-whites.Club football
A Commission for Racial Equality survey in 2004 found only seven professional British Asian footballers playing in the UK; the same survey also found only ten British Asian players at Premier League academies. By February 2008 the number of professionals had dropped to just five, and less than 1 in 100 of young players in Academies throughout the entire English football league systemEnglish football league system
The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...
were Asian. Current professionals, such as Adnan Ahmed
Adnan Ahmed
Adnan Farooq Ahmed is a professional footballer who plays for Bradford Park Avenue in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. Ahmed is a British Asian of Pakistani descent...
, have publicly spoken out about the lack of fellow Asians in the sport.
Roger Verdi
Roger Verdi
Roger Verdi is a retired English professional footballer who spent his entire career in North America, making over 100 league appearances in the North American Soccer League.-Early life:...
, of Indian origin, was forced to change his name because of racism, and had to move to the United States in order to start a professional career.
Zesh Rehman, of Pakistani origin, was the first British Asian to play in the Premiership. Rehman later launched his own Foundation in May 2010, with the intention of helping young British Asians in football.
Anwar Uddin, of Bangladeshi origin, was the first British Asian to captain a side in the top four divisions of English League football. Uddin remains the only player of Bangladeshi origin to turn professional.
International football
Frank SooFrank Soo
Frank Soo was an English professional football player and manager of mixed Chinese and English parentage. Soo played as an inside forward.-Personal life:...
, of Chinese heritage, played for the England wartime team
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
and remains the only player of East Asian heritage to do so.
In August 2007, trials were organised by the Pakistan Football Federation
Pakistan Football Federation
The Pakistan Football Federation is the governing body of football in Pakistan. The PFF’s headquarters is at FIFA Football House in Lahore, Punjab near the Punjab Stadium.-Overview:...
in Rotherham
Rotherham
Rotherham is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Don, at its confluence with the River Rother, between Sheffield and Doncaster. Rotherham, at from Sheffield City Centre, is surrounded by several smaller settlements, which together form the wider Metropolitan Borough of...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
for British Pakistanis players to attend a training camp with the Pakistan national team
Pakistan national football team
The Pakistan national football team is controlled by the Pakistan Football Federation and is a member of the Asian Football Confederation . The team has not yet qualified for either the FIFA World Cup or Asian Cup championships. Twice they have finished third in the South Asian Football Federation...
.
A number of British Asians have represented their secondary nations at international level; a full list can be found below.
Clubs
There are a number of Asian-specific football teams. Teams such as London APSALondon APSA F.C.
London All Peoples' Sports Association are a non-League football team who play in the Essex Senior League.They play at The Terrence McMillan Stadium in Newham.-External links:*...
and Sporting Bengal United
Sporting Bengal United F.C.
Sporting Bengal United Football Club is an English football team from Mile End, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. They currently play in the Essex Senior League.-History:...
became the first Asian clubs to play in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
in 2005.
In October 2007, clubs in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
began out-reach programmes into Asian communities to attract new fans.
In March 2009, Premier League club Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
announced plans to target young players from Asian communities. Two players found on the trial later signed with Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
and Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
, and in May 2010 Chelsea launched a second initiative, with the aim to find six young British Asian players.
Fans
In December 1999, a Scottish AsianAsian-Scots
Asian-Scots or Scottish Asians is a term used for people of South Asian ancestry who were born in Scotland, or for South Asian immigrants....
football fan publicly spoke out about the racism he had encountered at Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
.
Research compiled by the Premier League in March 2009 concluded that more British Asians were attending games than ever before.
Officials
Jarnail Singh, who is of Indian descent, has been described as a "trailblazer" for Asian referees.List of British Asian footballers
The following is a list of British Asian footballers, organised by nation of origin.| Name | Origin | Debut | International details | Notes & references |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahmed, Shahed Shahed Ahmed Shahed Ahmed is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker.-Early and personal life:Ahmed was born in Tower Hamlets, East London, and is of Bangladeshi origin.-Career:... |
2004 | |||
| Uddin, Anwar | 2002 | |||
| Chung, Sammy Sammy Chung Cyril "Sammy" Chung is an English former football player and manager. His father was Chinese and his mother English.-Playing career:... |
 Republic of China |
1951 | ||
| Soo, Frank Frank Soo Frank Soo was an English professional football player and manager of mixed Chinese and English parentage. Soo played as an inside forward.-Personal life:... |
Republic of China |
1933 | Full caps for England | |
| Cheung Chi Doy Cheung Chi Doy Cheung Chi Doy is a Chinese former professional footballer. He played for Blackpool and the Republic of China . During the era, Republic of China team was represented by players from Hong Kong.... |
1960 | Full caps for China | ||
| Cheung Chi Wai Cheung Chi Wai Cheung Chi Wai was a professional footballer from Hong Kong who spent the 1968 season in the North American Soccer League, playing for the Vancouver Royals. His brother was fellow footballer Cheung Chi Doy.-External links:*... |
1968 | |||
| Bains, Rikki Rikki Bains Rikki Lee Bains is an English professional footballer currently playing for Barwell in the Northern Premier League Division One South. He is a defender.-Coventry City:... |
2006 | |||
| Chopra, Michael Michael Chopra Rocky Michael Chopra is an English footballer who plays for Football League Championship side Ipswich Town. He is of mixed Indian and British descent.... |
2000 | Youth caps for England | ||
| Dosanj, Aman Aman Dosanj 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.... |
1999 | Youth caps for England Women | First British Asian to represent England at any level | |
| Sansara, Netan Netan Sansara Netan Nico Sansara is an English footballer who plays for PAEEK as a left back. He has played for Dundee in the Scottish First Division, and has also played for Walsall.-Early life:... |
2008 | Youth caps for England | ||
| Singh, Harpal Harpal Singh Harpal Singh , more commonly known as Pala , is an Sikh Hockeysportsman. He is currently in Indian Hockeyteam.He is a Sabat Sikh as appears in the sikhism articles.-Career:... |
2001 | |||
| Verdi, Roger Roger Verdi Roger Verdi is a retired English professional footballer who spent his entire career in North America, making over 100 league appearances in the North American Soccer League.-Early life:... |
1972 | |||
| Verma, Aman Aman Verma (footballer) Aman Kumar Verma is an English association footballer who plays for Kettering Town as a midfielder. Verma is of Indian origin.-Career:... |
2009 | |||
| Williams, Rhys Rhys Williams (footballer) Rhys Williams is an Australian professional football player currently playing for Middlesbrough in the English Football League Championship and the Australia national football team... |
2008 | Full caps for Australia | Born in Australia to a British father and an Indian mother | |
| Jalal, Shwan Shwan Jalal Shwan Saman Jalal is a footballer who plays for Bournemouth as a goalkeeper. He played for the England C team from 2005 to 2006.-Club career:... |
2000 | Full caps for England C | ||
| Ahmed, Adnan Adnan Ahmed Adnan Farooq Ahmed is a professional footballer who plays for Bradford Park Avenue in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. Ahmed is a British Asian of Pakistani descent... |
2004 | Full caps for Pakistan | ||
| Ashraf, Reis Reis Ashraf Reis Ashraf is an English-born Pakistani international footballer who plays for Buckingham Town in the United Counties League Division One.... |
2009 | Full caps for Pakistan | ||
| Bashir, Atif Atif Bashir Atif Bashir Qureshi is a German Turkish-Pakistani footballer, who plays for Barry Town in the Welsh Football League First Division and at international level for the Pakistan national team.-Early career:... |
2004 | Full caps for Pakistan | Born in Germany to a British Asian father and a German Turkish mother | |
| Docker, Adam Adam Docker Adam Luke Docker is an English-Pakistani footballer. In 2007 he was called up for Pakistan, where he used the name of Adam Karim.... |
2007 | Full caps for Pakistan | ||
| Gondal, Usman Usman Gondal Usman Iqbal Gondal is a retired Pakistani international footballer. He retired from football in February 2007.-Club career:Gondal was born in Derby, England and played youth football for both Nottingham Forest and Leicester City... |
2006 | Full caps for Pakistan | ||
| Iqbal, Amjad Amjad Iqbal Amjad Iqbal is a professional footballer who plays for Northern Premier League Premier Division club Bradford Park Avenue... |
2007 | Full caps for Pakistan | ||
| Khan, Sabhir | 2009 | Full caps for Pakistan | ||
| Rehman, Zesh | 2003 | Full caps for Pakistan | ||
| Siddiqi, Kashif Kashif Siddiqi Kashif Mumtaz Siddiqi is an English-born Pakistani international footballer who plays as midfielder. He is currently without a club team.-Early career in England:Siddiqi played youth football for Hayes, Yeading and Boston United.... |
2005 | Full caps for Pakistan | ||
| Etheridge, Neil Neil Etheridge Neil Leonard Dula Etheridge is an English–Filipino professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Fulham. He joined Fulham Academy after three years as a trainee at . He is currently in the Reserve Squad, and has yet to make his debut in the Premier League or the Football League... |
2008 | Full caps for Philippines | ||
| Hartmann, Darren | 2005 | Youth caps for Philippines | ||
| Hartmann, Mark Mark Hartmann Mark Andrew Calibjo Hartmann is an English–Filipino footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or second striker for . He also represents the Philippines at international level.- Club career :... |
2011 | Full caps for Philippines | ||
| Hartmann, Matthew Matthew Hartmann Matthew James Calibjo "Matt" Hartmann is an English–Filipino footballer who plays as a left back or left midfielder for . He also represents the Philippines at international level, and is the current captain of the national under-23 football team.- Club career :Hartmann went through the ranks at ... |
2006 | Full caps for Philippines | ||
| Gier, Rob | 2000 | Full caps for Philippines | ||
| Gould, Chad Chad Gould Chad Edward Alesna Gould is an English-Filipino footballer who plays for the Philippine national team. Gould is also a member of the England national beach soccer team after playing in the National Tour and successfully getting through the trial process... |
2004 | Full caps for Philippines | ||
| Greatwich, Christopher Christopher Greatwich Christopher Robert Barbon "Chris" Greatwich is an English–Filipino footballer who plays for Morris County Colonials and the Philippines national football team... |
2004 | Full caps for Philippines | ||
| Greatwich, Phil | 2006 | Full caps for Philippines | ||
| Greatwich, Simon Simon Greatwich Simon Clive Barbon Greatwich is a Filipino international footballer who plays college soccer in the United States for the Hartwick Hawks, as a central midfielder.- Early and personal life :... |
2008 | Full caps for Philippines | ||
| Younghusband, James James Younghusband James Joseph Placer Younghusband is an English–Filipino footballer who plays as right midfielder for and the Philippines national team.- Childhood and career :... |
2006 | Full caps for Philippines | ||
| Younghusband, Phil Phil Younghusband Philip James Placer "Phil" Younghusband is an English–Filipino footballer who plays as a forward for and the Philippines national team.- Early years :... |
2006 | Full caps for Philippines | ||
| Chunonsee, Mika Mika Chunuonsee Mika Chunuonsee is a Welsh-Thai footballer.-Club career:Born in Bridgend, Wales, Chunuonsee joined Neath Athletic in July 2008 from Welsh League side Bryntirion Athletic... |
2007 | Youth caps for Wales | ||
| Ramasut, Tom Tom Ramasut Mahan William Thomas 'Tom' Ramasut is a Welsh footballer of Thai descent who currently plays for Haverfordwest County in the Welsh Premier League.-Career:... |
1996 | Youth caps for Wales | ||
| Mohames, Kaid Kaid Mohamed Kaid Yusef Mohamed is a Welsh footballer who plays for League Two side Cheltenham Town.-Early career:Born in Cardiff, Mohamed made his debut for Cwmbran Town at the age of 18 and established himself in the Welsh Premier League as a regular goalscorer... |
2003 | |||
Popular culture
The 2002 film Bend It Like BeckhamBend 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...
deals with issues relating to British Asians in football.