Netan Sansara
Encyclopedia
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
.
. He grew up in the Darlaston
area, playing for his local team Darlaston Town. As a child he attended Pinfold Street Primary School and Darlaston Community Science College School, he played for all school football teams. He also represented his county, the Staffordshire district. During his time in the Walsall
youth team Sansara completed A levels in Psychology, Physical Education and Biology.
debut on 9 August 2008 in the Football League One
game with Yeovil Town
which ended in a 1–1 draw. Having come through the youth ranks at Walsall, he was handed a professional contract at the age of 17, by then Walsall manager Richard Money after impressing him during youth team and reserve team games. Sansara made his professional debut the following season by newly appointed Walsall manager Jimmy Mullen against Yeovil Town
. He said, "I thought he did well. But he's played well against Aston Villa and Wolves in pre-season, as well as other teams when Boertien wasn't available. I've given him his debut and he'll look back when he’s 35 and say 'Jimmy Mullen gave me an opportunity'. He might even thank me one day! But I thought he was excellent – very good."
At the start of the 2009–10 season, Sansara was handed the squad number three, by manager Chris Hutchings
. However, during a pre-season friendly in July 2010 against Wolverhampton Wanderers
, Sansara's progress was halted due to a ankle ligament injury sustained in a tackle with Greg Halford
. He made a return to action for his first start away at Colchester United
in October 2009. The Saddlers lost 2–1.
Sansara went on to make another 19 appearances during the 2009–10 season.
. It had been revealed that Sansara had also received other offers during the summer but was to have been quoted stating he thought this move was the best for the development of his career.
On 17 September 2011, in the opening game of the season, Sansara made his debut for PAEEK. He completed the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 win over Ethnikos Assia
.
. He then went on to earn another two caps at international level for England, once with the under-18's and his last coming for the under-19's.
Sansara is of Indian origin. Sansara got his first international call-up for India
for a warm-up to a FIFA World Cup
qualifier against Qatar
.
(PFA) to try to increase the number of British Asians taking up a career in professional football, and has attended meetings with the PFA in order to achieve this goal.
He is also an ambassador for "www.kickitout.org" (Lets Kick Racism Out Of Football), when appointed Sansara was quoted "I have been working closely with the Kick It Out campaign for a while now, and I look forward to continuing to assist the work. I hope to act as a role model to the next generation of young British Asian talent."
PAEEK
PAEEK is a Cypriot sports club founded in Kyrenia in 1953 by graduates of Kyrenia Gymnasium and represented the first force to be reckoned from the small city. It now plays in exile in Nicosia since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in July 1974...
as a left back. He has played for Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
in the Scottish First Division, and has also played for Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
.
Early life
Sansara was born in WalsallWalsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
. He grew up in the Darlaston
Darlaston
Darlaston is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall in the West Midlands of England.-History:Archaeological evidence of the history of Darlaston has been destroyed by The de Darlaston family owned Darlaston and lived in the manor between the 12th century and 15th century. When the de...
area, playing for his local team Darlaston Town. As a child he attended Pinfold Street Primary School and Darlaston Community Science College School, he played for all school football teams. He also represented his county, the Staffordshire district. During his time in the Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
youth team Sansara completed A levels in Psychology, Physical Education and Biology.
Walsall
Sansara made his WalsallWalsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
debut on 9 August 2008 in the Football League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
game with Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
which ended in a 1–1 draw. Having come through the youth ranks at Walsall, he was handed a professional contract at the age of 17, by then Walsall manager Richard Money after impressing him during youth team and reserve team games. Sansara made his professional debut the following season by newly appointed Walsall manager Jimmy Mullen against Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
. He said, "I thought he did well. But he's played well against Aston Villa and Wolves in pre-season, as well as other teams when Boertien wasn't available. I've given him his debut and he'll look back when he’s 35 and say 'Jimmy Mullen gave me an opportunity'. He might even thank me one day! But I thought he was excellent – very good."
At the start of the 2009–10 season, Sansara was handed the squad number three, by manager Chris Hutchings
Chris Hutchings
Christopher "Chris" Hutchings is an English former footballer and former manager of Walsall. He played for a number of clubs including Chelsea and played more than 100 games for Brighton & Hove Albion and Huddersfield Town...
. However, during a pre-season friendly in July 2010 against Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, Sansara's progress was halted due to a ankle ligament injury sustained in a tackle with Greg Halford
Greg Halford
Gregory "Greg" Halford is an English footballer who plays for Portsmouth. He is naturally a right wingback or winger, but has played a number of other positions throughout his career, including striker and centre back....
. He made a return to action for his first start away at Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
in October 2009. The Saddlers lost 2–1.
Sansara went on to make another 19 appearances during the 2009–10 season.
PAEEK
In July 2011, it had been announced that Sansara had signed for Cypriot side PAEEKPAEEK
PAEEK is a Cypriot sports club founded in Kyrenia in 1953 by graduates of Kyrenia Gymnasium and represented the first force to be reckoned from the small city. It now plays in exile in Nicosia since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in July 1974...
. It had been revealed that Sansara had also received other offers during the summer but was to have been quoted stating he thought this move was the best for the development of his career.
On 17 September 2011, in the opening game of the season, Sansara made his debut for PAEEK. He completed the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 win over Ethnikos Assia
Ethnikos Assia
Ethnikos Assia is a Cyprus football team currently playing in the Cypriot Second Division. The team was established in Assia, Famagusta, but since the Turkish invasion of 1974, Ethnikos became a refugee team. The club is now based in the capital Nicosia and play their home games at the Makario...
.
International career
Sansara has represented England youth at under-18 and under-19 level, earning three caps. He made his England debut against Holland at Yeovil's Huish ParkHuish Park
Huish Park is a football ground in the suburbs of Yeovil, Somerset, England and is the home ground of Yeovil Town Football Club. The stadium replaced the club's previous ground, The Huish famous for numerous FA Cup giant-killings was officially opened on 4 August 1990, with a match against then...
. He then went on to earn another two caps at international level for England, once with the under-18's and his last coming for the under-19's.
Sansara is of Indian origin. Sansara got his first international call-up for India
India national football team
The Indian national football team is the national football team of India and is governed by the All India Football Federation. It is a member of the Asian Football Confederation. Since 1948, the AIFF has been affiliated with FIFA, the international governing body for football. In 1954, AIFF became...
for a warm-up to a FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
qualifier against Qatar
Qatar national football team
The Qatar national football team is the national team of Qatar and is controlled by the Qatar Football Association. They have never qualified for a FIFA World Cup but are hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The team has also appeared in seven AFC Asian Cup tournaments and hosted the 2011 AFC Asian...
.
Personal life
Sansara worked with the Professional Footballers' AssociationProfessional Footballers' Association
The Professional Footballers' Association is the trade union for professional footballers in England and Wales. The world's oldest professional sport trade union, it has 4,000 members....
(PFA) to try to increase the number of British Asians taking up a career in professional football, and has attended meetings with the PFA in order to achieve this goal.
He is also an ambassador for "www.kickitout.org" (Lets Kick Racism Out Of Football), when appointed Sansara was quoted "I have been working closely with the Kick It Out campaign for a while now, and I look forward to continuing to assist the work. I hope to act as a role model to the next generation of young British Asian talent."
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Walsall Walsall F.C. Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second... |
2008-09 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| 2009-10 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | |
| Total | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | |