Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Coach Manisha Tailor calls for greater diversity in football

The number of British South Asian women in football does not represent the demographic: Tailor

Coach Manisha Tailor calls for greater diversity in football

Football coach and author Manisha Tailor has called for action to bring more British Asian women to the top division of the game.

Despite making up the largest single ethnic minority female group, South Asian women account for just 0.3 per cent in the top division of football.

Tailor, who trained as a headteacher before embarking on a football career, said the figure did not represent the demographic of England.

The assistant head of academy coaching at Queens Park Rangers (QPR) and the only person of South Asian origin to hold such a position in the English professional game, told Sky Sports: “I don't think the female pathway in the elite game is diverse.”

"When I have asked [the Football Association] for data - I understand that certain data is protected, and it's very challenging to actually fully understand the landscape of how many South Asian females we have in the elite pathway - whether that is the pathway to the Women's Super League or the pathway to England,” she said.

In her book 'Dream Like Me: South Asian Football Trailblazers', she has written about the barriers British South Asians faced in football and offered young readers lessons for the future.

Former England striker Lianne Sanderson said blockages in the female talent pathway for girls from diverse ethnic backgrounds were a matter of concern.

Sanderson told Sky Sports: "There was a squad picked for England a couple of years ago that didn't represent any people of colour and a lot of people have a lot to say about this issue, but for me, it's a knock-on effect for a number of years.”

"When I played for Arsenal, it wasn't like there weren't any of us. There were loads of us: myself, Rachel Yankey, Alex Scott, Anita Asante, the list could go on and it does concern me that there are not a lot of younger players, playing at grassroots and then coming through because, for me, I think it's getting blocked somewhere,” Sanderson said.

More For You

Exclusive: 'Starmer must fill NHS staffing defecit'
Dr Chaand Nagpaul

Exclusive: 'Starmer must fill NHS staffing defecit'

LABOUR's latest announcement to cut NHS waiting lists, while welcome, does not go far enough, the former leader of the doctors’ union, Chaand Nagpaul has told Eastern Eye.

Prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, unveiled his plans on Monday (6). He pledged Labour would set up more NHS hubs in community locations in England, and the service would make greater use of the private sector to help meet the challenge.

Keep ReadingShow less
Exclusive: 'Stop spreading racial hatred'
Nazir Afzal

Exclusive: 'Stop spreading racial hatred'

POLITICIANS must dial down “dangerous and inflammatory” rhetoric and recognise the contributions of all communities in Britain, prominent south Asians have told Eastern Eye.

They are concerned that recent social media attacks on asylum seekers, immigrants, especially British Pakistanis, as well as ministers will lead to unnecessary deaths.

Keep ReadingShow less
Lisa-Nandy-Getty

The culture secretary retains powers to refer the case to the Competition and Markets Authority, which could trigger an investigation into press freedom concerns linked to Abu Dhabi’s involvement. (Photo: Getty Images)

Calls grow for Lisa Nandy to end Telegraph ownership stalemate

THE SALE of The Telegraph newspaper has drawn widespread political calls for culture secretary Lisa Nandy to intervene and end the prolonged uncertainty surrounding its ownership.

The newspaper has been in limbo for 20 months after an auction process initiated by RedBird IMI, an Abu Dhabi-backed investment fund, failed to secure a suitable buyer.

Keep ReadingShow less
illegal-migrants-getty

According to government data, over 36,800 people crossed the Channel in 2024. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Labour government reports highest illegal migrant removals since 2018

THE LABOUR government announced on Thursday that it had removed 16,400 illegal migrants since taking office in July, the fastest rate of removals since 2018.

On taking office, prime minister Keir Starmer scrapped the previous Conservative government's scheme to send migrants who arrive illegally to Rwanda, instead setting up a Border Security Command to crack down on illegal migration – a huge political issue in Britain.

Keep ReadingShow less
Two men jailed for trying to smuggle migrants into UK

Shafaz Khan (L), Choudhry Rashied (Photo: Home Office)

Two men jailed for trying to smuggle migrants into UK

TWO London-based men have been sentenced to over 10 years behind bars after being convicted of breaching UK immigration law by trying to smuggle four Indian migrants in a hidden van compartment disguised by a stack of dirty tyres.

According to the UK Home Office, British nationals Shafaz Khan and Choudhry Rashied, who operated under the alias ‘Manzar Mian Attique’, hid the group of migrants behind the tyres in a “purpose built” hidden space in the vehicle.

Keep ReadingShow less