In World Cup year, this inspiring book for young people features trailblazing individuals from the British South Asian community working in all parts of the game
‘This book holds so many different voices, a multitude within the South Asian community, full of insights, reflections & prompts, a powerful manual that can be read and re-read throughout one’s journey in football.’ – Noorafshan Mirza, artist, creative coach & football agent
There remains a lack of representation from the South Asian community across all levels of football, despite it being one of the largest ethnic minority groups to be living in the UK.
In this first of its kind book, trailblazing coach Manisha Tailor profiles 42 pioneering individuals working in all parts of the game – from male and female players to coaches, referees, board members, administrators, sports scientists and medical staff – and representing different cultures and faiths within the British South Asian community.
Based on interviews, these powerful stories not only illustrate the challenges faced by these role models, but lessons that they can offer young readers. Young people need to see people like them in order to believe that dreams are possible: the role models in this inspirational book will show South Asian children and teens that their football dreams can come true.
Manisha Tailor, MBE, is the Assistant Head of Coaching (U9-U16) at QPR Football Club, and the only person of South Asian heritage to be working as a coach in the English professional game. Manisha has a background in primary education and trained as a headteacher before embarking on a career in football. She is the founder of Swaggerlicious, an organisation that uses football and education to engage with Black, Asian, Minority groups and women, works with Show Racism the Red Card delivering anti-racism workshops, and holds an advisory role as vice-chair (coaching) on the British Asians in Sport and Physical Activity board. In 2017 she received an MBE for services to football and diversity in sport. Manisha has been featured in dozens of media outlets, including the Guardian, the Times and the Evening Standard, who in 2021 named her as one of 24 inspiring London changemakers getting London back on its feet.
