Welcome to the Asian Football Network
...a voice for the Asian Football Community
The Asian Football Network (AFN) is a voluntary organisation that aims to assist the development of the Asian football community and provide a strategic voice for grassroots groups and projects contributing to this goal.
Our key objectives include empowering local grassroots projects, highlighting good practice, developing new dynamic projects and initiatives within the framework of our local forums, and providing an overview of current and future trends and issues relating to Asians in Football.
On this site you will find an overview of Asian football development in a wide range of areas including football development programmes, teams, players, coaches, managers, supporters, volunteers.
For a current overview of Asian football development in the UK, please visit our case studies section, which provide pages on the latest examples of best practice in the UK. See recent news and events for up-to-date information on a range of subjects.
The AFN website provides an empowering resource for individuals and groups that want to move on from the unproductive debate of the last 10 years and look towards highlighting good practice in the UK and more importantly supporting, facilitating and developing new sustainable projects and ideas. For more information and to get involved, see our pages on local forums which enables the grassroots football community to network and develop partnerships that will strengthen and capacity-build the future of Asians in Football.
The Asian Football Network enjoys support from key stakeholders as well as grassroots community projects (see our partnership pages). We believe in pushing the agenda forward through a strategic bottom-up approach that focuses on grassroots level support and nurturing the next generations of Asians passionate about football at all levels.
News & Events
August
Learn the Spanish Way–with Valencia FC and the KFA.
July
Asian Football Tournament at Barnet FC’s training ground on Saturday 24th July. YouTube has more.
April
Chelsea FC is launching a search for young Asian football stars of the future. Successful participants will be offered a three-day residential trial at the club's world class Academy. Register for trials on the Chelsea website.
March
An Indian Team managed by the Khalsa Football Academy win the Street Child World Cup.
December
The AFN contributes to a debate on Indian football in Champions League magazine.
November
Empower-Sport and Sporting Equals have organised an exciting opportunity for Asian boys (between 14 and 16 years) to have the chance of a trial with Tottenham Hotspur FC. Preliminary trials will be held in Hayes, Middlesex, on the 7th of November 2009. For more information visit Sporting Equals.
October
SRtRC is hosting an event at London's City Hall to officially open their new Office in Bedford, which will be a new campaign base to cover the East and South East of England.
July
The Osmani Trust will deliver this year's Tower Hamlets Community Cup 2009 on Saturday 25th July for more information visit http://www.eliteyouth.org/
June
Baljinder Singh Director of the Khalsa Football Academy has been awarded the Hertfordshire County FA Workforce award at Watford FC.
May
AFN ambassador Zesh Rehman launches new website.
April
The AFN will be supporting a new interactive online resource aimed at coaches. The Ambition Football website gives advice, information and tips, available at professional clubs to everyone involved in grassroots football. Visit www.ambitionfootball.com for more info.
Pete Randhawa has become the West Midlands first Asian coach to obtain the FA Level 3 UEFA B coaching badge. He currently coaches for GGNP FC. For more information email Pete.
March
Chelsea FC is launching a search for young Asian football stars of the future. ‘Search for an Asian Soccer Star’ trials will take place on the 3rd, 4th and 5th May for U12’s, U13’s and U14’s. Successful participants will be offered a three-day residential trial at the club’s world class Academy. To register for the trials please visit the Chelsea website.
The Football Foundation has re-opened its Community Grants scheme. See The Football Foundation website for more information.
February
The Asian Football Network will be representing Asian Football at the House of Commons for the launch of the Football Foundation Diversity Strategy on the 23rd February.
January 2009
The Asian Football Network holds a grassroots sport funding workshop in East London.
December
Asian Football Network Ambassador Zesh Rehman speaks to Setanta sport about the stereotyping of Asian players.
October
The Punjabi Wolves will be holding a Five-a-Side tournament in Wolverhampton on Saturday the 1st of November for more information go to www.sikhactivity.com or call 07831873396.
September
The Football Foundation is not accepting any new applications to the Community Scheme (grants of £9,000 – £250,000) until further notice.
June
The North West Kent Football partnership will be hosting a funding seminar supported by the Asian Football Network and the Football Foundation on Monday 2nd June in Gravesend, Kent. For further information contact info@nwkrec.com or call Gurvinder Sandher on 01474 369329.
May
Professional Football Player Zesh Rehman becomes an Ambassador for the Asian Football Network, learn more about Zesh on his new website.
April
The Asian Football Network along with other Asian football projects were showcased at the FA's Ethnic Minority Media Day.
March
Sees the launch of the 2008 BBC/Football Foundation Your Game national football festival. A unique 5–a–side football festival for 16–25 year olds, targeting participants underpresented in mainstream football. To find out more, email your.game@bbc.co.uk or call the team on 0208 576 2784.
February
Middlesex County FA are setting up a Race Equality Advisory Group and hosting a consultation event on Wednesday 19th of March in Southall. For an application form and further information contact Bob Hill on 020 8515 1927.
January 2008
Our Case Studies section has five new articles: Asian Football Supporters, Facilities, Refereeing, Muslim Women’s Sport Foundation and Liverpool Muslim Ladies.
December
The UK’s first Asian Women’s Coaching course is a success. The Asian Football Network (AFN) continued its groundbreaking Coaching Pathways Programme (CPP) last month. Read more on the FA website.
November
This month sees the Asian Football Network launch a pioneering research project on Asian football supporters, in partnership with the Premier League and the University of Brighton. The AFN will also be visiting grounds around the country in the coming months. Fill out the survey »
October
Football United Conference is the first ever football conference in Kent highlighting issues including, social inclusion, community cohesion and race equality. Speakers include Brendon Batson The FA, Paul Eillott MBE FARE Ambassador. On Tuesday the 23rd October at the Princes Park stadium Dartford. For further information call Gurvinder Sandher on 01474 369329
The Asian Football Network will continue its groundbreaking Coaching Pathways Programme this November by delivering a Level 1 coaching course aimed at Asian Women and Girls in partnership with Essex FA in East London. Contact AFN for more information
or call 01245 393071
August
Individuals from a variety of different cultural and social backgrounds are being invited to apply to sit on the Race Equality (REAG) and Disability Equality (DEAG) Advisory Groups at The FA.
The Mela Cup 2007 is the first of an annual event, bringing football competition, skills, training and enjoyment of the game to Asian communities through out the UK.
July
The Tower Hamlets Community Cup will bring together communities across East London this weekend. Organised by Tower Hamlets based youth group, Elite Youth, more than 400 young people will come together at the Mile End Leisure Centre for a day of football, friendship and fun. Saturday 28th July. More information on the Islamic Forum Europe website.
May
The AFN Coaching Pathways Programme will be delivering a Level 1 coaching course aimed at Asian Women and Girls this summer in East London
.
April
The AFN will be supporting a new interactive online resource aimed at coaches. The Ambition Football website gives advice, information and tips, available at professional clubs to everyone involved in grassroots football. Visit www.ambitionfootball.com.
Pete Randhawa has become the West Midlands first Asian coach to obtain the FA Level 3 UEFA B coaching badge. He currently coaches for GGNP FC. For more information email Pete.
Sees the launch of the BBC/Football Foundation Your Game national football festival. A unique 5–a–side football festival for 16–25 year olds, targeting participants underpresented in mainstream football
March
AFN develops a partnership with The FA‘s Get into Football campaign to encourage participation in football at all levels
February
AFN hosts local football network meetings in East London and Bristol
January 30th
The Asian Football Network represented grassroots football at the House of Commons on 30th January. The event was hosted by the Commission for Race Equality (CRE). Key football bodies including The FA, Football Foundation, Premier League, Football League and Professional Footballers’ Association gave a progress report on their work in promoting race equality. Garth Crooks and Paul Elliott in their capacity as special advisors to the CRE, joined Minister for Sport Richard Caborn in highlighting the important contribution made by football on race equality issues and the need to continue to promote race equality on and off the pitch.
January 15th
Sporting Equals has lent its support to the Asian Football Network, recognising the organisation’s focus on promoting race equality and representing minority groups and individuals.
December 4th 2006
The FA release an article on the launch of the new look AFN website.
November 2006
The AFN has just launched its pioneering coaching pathways programme (CPP), which aims to develop coaching opportunities for aspiring Asian football coaches. The CPP provides mentoring for coaches and is augmented by giving them an insight into alternative coaching methods. The first Level 1 coaching course was delivered in partnership with Essex FA. More soon…