Our Game Too

OGT speaks to Riaz Khan, author of Khan, Memoirs of an Asian Casual.

Now a university lecturer and activist, Riaz had a more colourful past.

The 70's and 80's were a dark time for football in many respects. Hooliganism has since been glamorised by the cinema but there are many books that can give you a real insight into the times.

Cass Penant and Barrington Patterson are now well known outside of their 'firms'.

In and amongst all of this, Asians were there. On one side you had the communities and shops, often found in and around football clubs and they had an uneasy relationship with football fans which has led to many of that generation shying away from supporting their local team, either in person or at all.

Less well known is the story of Asians who joined in and participated in this 'culture'.

Riaz's book gives a voice to many of those. He tells his story and it is interspersed with reminisces and anecdotes of many other 'hooligans' and 'casuals', many of them black and surprisingly, Asian too.

Follow Riaz on Twitter @riazkhanlc and on Facebook

'Memoirs' has been turned into an award winning play and look out, there are some more exciting projects to come from Riaz.

Asians in football... we're getting there... or perhaps we've always been here...

Music:

Naraina by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4112-naraina

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

OGT speaks to Terry Singh

He's coached all over the world and was prominent in bringing the modern game to China.

Terry has also been involved in getting Asians into football since the 90s and has his own mention in Jas Bains' seminal work, Corner Flags and Corner Shops.

In fact, he was once regarded as one of the 100 most influential people in football.

He's still going strong today, fighting the good fight.

Asians in football... we're getting there.

Music:

Naraina by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4112-naraina

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

OGT speaks to Anwar Uddin... for a bit longer!

How he started his coaching badges much earlier than you would expect and still managed to get into management too early.

Anwar does some fantastic work for The FSA – Football Supporters Association and his energy and passion shine through.

How does he find the time and the energy? Listen in to find out.

Asians in football... we're getting there.

Music:

Naraina by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4112-naraina

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

OGT meet it's hero, Anwar Uddin.

Anwar had a great playing career and in part one we hear some fascinating stories of getting into the game and playing with some of the greatest English players of a generation and career choices and sliding doors moments.

Throughout, his enthusiasm for the game and positive outlook shine through.

He's now one of the most prominent Asians in football and doesn't shy away from any kind of responsibility and his head is well above the proverbial parapet.

Asians in football... we're getting there.

Music:

Naraina by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4112-naraina

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

OGT #asiansinfootball speaks with Coach Ruudy, first team coach at Billericay Town FC

If ever there's an example of a go getter, it's Ruudy.

He's been involved with football his whole life and once you hear his energy and enthusiasm, it won't surprise you to hear any of the coaching jobs he talked himself into.

His views are forthright and we didn't always agree but still one of the most enjoyable conversations that we've had.

Oh, and Keval turned up late!

Asians in football... we're getting there.

Music:

Naraina by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4112-naraina

OGT tries a different tack today.

There is still racism in the game and there are still prejudices, be they overt or subconscious.

On the coaching, administrative and executive front, black people still face huge challenges and there will be many uphill struggles to come.

On the playing front however, black players are ubiquitous. It's stranger to see a professional team without representation and they are now mainstays of the national team.

But, that journey has been a long and arduous one.

What can Asians learn from the black experience? This is a huge topic and could easily encompass podcasts, TV shows and books of it's own.

We have to start somewhere though. So for this episode, we speak first to Bill Hern who alongside David Gleave has written the amazing 'Football's Black Pioneers'. They have researched extensively the first black footballer at each of the 92 league clubs and the stories they have to tell are fascinating.

We then discuss one of the highest profile black faces in sport journalism, now assistant editor of The Daily Mirror and frequent TV and radio presenter, Darren Lewis.

Finally, one of the offshoots of the conversation with Bill was the idea of a statue for the first professional Asian who debuted in 1895 and if you want to know more, listen in! 2020 has been a strange year for statues and we're joined by Matt Tiller of the Jack Leslie Campaign to tell Jack's stories and provide us with some pointers!

Asians in football... we're getting there.

Jack Leslie illustration by Mayflower D7

Music:

Naraina by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4112-naraina

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

OGT speak to a real life football agent and it turns out that he's not the bad guy!

He deals with top clubs and players from all around the world and he got to his position without the contacts or nepotism the industry is infamous for.

Find out how he got here and who the next big Asian footballer will be.

Asians in football... we're getting there.

Music:

Naraina by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4112-naraina

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

OGT speaks to Trishan Patel who amongst other footballing things, is Assistant Manager at non-league Berkhamsted FC.

Football has been his life and his passion has taken him to America, India and even to his beloved Liverpool!

Follow him on Instagram @trishanpatelcoaching or Twitter @trishancoach

Asians in football... we're getting there.

Music:

Naraina by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4112-naraina

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

OGT speaks to Dr Dan Kilvington, lecturer, author and podcaster.

He's been studying Asian exclusion from football for a very long time.

And yes, he does use the word exclusion deliberately.

Fascinating conversation and Dan's passion, eloquence and deep understanding of race and discrimination make this our best episode yet.

Asians in football... we're getting there.

OGT speaks to Raj Athwal. He's held senior commercial positions in some of Britain's largest football clubs including Watford, Coventry during their Premier League years and one of the very biggest, Rangers FC.

As with anyone entering their 4th decade in an specific industry, Raj is hugely knowledgeable, he has some great stories and most importantly, is one of the nicest people that you will ever meet.

We enjoyed the conversation so much, that as an added bonus we've include an 'extra-time' and some of the recording before we officially started the show is included at the end of the episode.

One final note, I still can't remember the pub we discuss in 'extra-time'. I now think it may be the Duke of Edinburgh, whereas some friends think it may be The Wagon and Wheels!