How 2024 became another important year in the English game| All Football

It’s been a rough 12 months across football, but 2024 has been another landmark year for British South Asia in the game.

Records were broken, league titles won, landmarks reached, and promotions clinched.

There have been significant developments away from the field, with a number of British South Asians also gaining the opportunity to play on the international stage.

Sky Sports News if it was covered from every angle – we look back at an unforgettable year for British South Asians in football…

An argument for the joy of a cup

There were fireworks at the start of the year with Kick it Out chairman Sanjay Bhandari MBE lashing out at “lazy racist stereotypes” after a now-deleted LinkedIn post by a Crystal Palace academy scout which dismissed the community’s underrepresentation in football -elite foot as simple. because Asian families put “all their efforts into education”, adding that they “align better with the game of cricket”.

But the focus was quickly back on football as Luton Town won almost £50,000 from their FA Cup run after veteran Sam Khan’s winner against Keynsham Town set up a fourth-round tie against the WSL side , Brighton.

With the January transfer window open, Sky Sports News exclusively revealed that Birmingham City youngster Brandon Khela is set to join Ross County on loan for the rest of the season.

The midfielder went on to earn his first taste of top division football and made his first ever league start in Ross County’s historic Scottish Premiership away game against Celtic.

There was also a moment of Africa Cup of Nations history to be savoured, when Tarryn Allarakhia – of mixed Indian and East African heritage – came out to Tanzania and became the first ever British South Asian to play in a Nations Cup in the modern era . .

Former Spurs youngster Zahmena Malik managed to move to the Saudi Arabian women’s team Al Hmmah, while Arjan Raikhy came on to replace Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and make his Championship debut for Leicester City.

Singh Gill referees in the Premier League

There was further momentum when pioneer Sunny Singh Gill became the first ever South Asian to referee a Premier League game as he presided over Crystal Palace’s clash with Luton Town at Selhurst Park.

At the turn of 2024, Sky Sports News broke the news that Sunny’s brother Bhupinder was going to make history as the first Sikh-Punjabi assistant referee to officiate in the Premier League.

There was also an unforgettable moment for Blues teenager Riya Mannu, who appeared in a Women’s Championship game away at Reading, becoming the first ever British South Asian to play league football for Birmingham City Women.

Speaking to Sky Sports News moments after the final whistle, Mannu’s mother said: “We knew this day would come because Riya was really persistent and so determined.

“But to see her do it was amazing. Riya has been working towards this moment for so long and the Blues have been amazing since day one.”

‘Football crisis’

In an exclusive interview with Sky Football the following month, Dhanda once again stood up for British South Asians in Football, talking about the uphill battle against unconscious bias that the community continues to face. w face in the elite game.

The Football Association admitted that the lack of South Asian representation in the game was “severe” and could be seen as a “football crisis”, adding that action to tackle the issue was now “a long-term goal” for English football’s governors. body.

The FA is now expected to introduce its first dedicated football scheme from South Asia in early 2025.

End of season success

Millie Chandarana was at it again as she helped Blackburn Rovers to a record number of points in the Women’s Championship, while also landing her side’s Goal of the Season for the second year running after her stunning strike against Charlton.

Kira Rai also had a stunning end to the campaign, becoming the first ever British South Asian to win a national trophy with Derby County as the Ewe Rams lifted the FA National Plate.

Hamza Choudhury helped Leicester City win the Championship title and gain promotion back to the Premier League under Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca.

Dhanda and Khela also enjoyed a thrilling end to the season as they helped Ross County emerge victorious from the relegation play-offs, retaining the club’s status in the Scottish Premier League.

Khela scored the first goal of his senior career in that game to end his loan spell in Scotland on a high.

Goalkeeper Jaz Singh – who broke the club’s clean sheet record that had stood for almost a century earlier in the year – won the National League North title as Tamworth won back-to-back promotions and went into the Conference.

Singh’s performances earned him his first appearance in the annual South Asians Football Team of the Season – with Chandarana, Choudhury and Dhanda all retaining their places from the previous season.

The team was showcased at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium, and at Leicester City, before being showcased at the home of English football at the Asian Football Awards at Wembley Stadium later in the year.

Summer Transfers

Dhanda’s stunning two-year spell at Ross County earned him a big move to Scottish Premier League giants Hearts after his contract expired.

In the English Championship, Danny Bath he joined Blackburn Rovers, with Sky Sports News reveal that keeper Rohan Luthra joins Derby County after leaving Cardiff.

Elsewhere, Dilan Markanday joined Chesterfield on loan from Blackburn, a Wolves academy graduate Kam Kandola signed for Kidderminster Harriers, Dillon Silva he moved to Sutton United and Tarryn Allarakhia joined Rochdale.

Former England youth international Asmita Ale joined WSL side Leicester City on a permanent basis following her loan from Spurs the previous season.

Chandarana left Blackburn Rovers to join ambitious Nottingham Forest. City of Birmingham Layla Banaras return to Wolves on dual registration and Zahmena Malik rejoined London Seaward.

Early season milestones

Some enjoyed an ideal start to the new season, bringing up a century of career first-team appearances in a Derby shirt, having first joined the club as an under-10 player.

Back in Birmingham for the 2024/25 season, Khela announced himself to the Blues fan base with a stunning long-range winner in a League Cup tie at Charlton which was named the best goal in the first round of the competition.

Barnsley midfielder Vimal Yoganathan scored the first goals of his senior career, netting two Tykes goals in a 3-2 EFL trophy defeat to Manchester United youth in the EFL Trophy.

Shadab Iftikhar he joined Shaun Maloney’s staff as Wigan’s first-team coach – marking a return to where his football journey started a few years ago, shadowing former Latics boss Roberto Martinez and providing opposition game analysis.

Elsewhere, Pav Singh replaced former Jamaican international Clayton Donaldson as manager of National League North side Farsley Celtic, becoming the highest-ranking British South Asian in such a role in English men’s football.

Dhanda and Choudhury were named joint winners of men’s footballer of the year at the Asian Football Awards, with Rai named women’s footballer of the year at the gala at Wembley Stadium. FC Utrecht midfielder Zidane Iqbal was named young player of the year as the awards returned after a seven-year absence.

Highs and lows

There was a sudden dose of reality for South Asians at The Game, however, when a racist remark from the crowd was directed at the assistant referee Bhupinder Singh Gill during Portsmouth’s 1-1 draw with Oxford United at Fratton Park.

But Markanday’s excellent form on loan at Chesterfield and Sonny Perkins’ A goal on his first league start for Leyton Orient provided cause for optimism towards the end of the year.

Perkins, who joined Orient on a season-long loan from Leeds United, also came on and scored with his first touch in Orient’s 3-0 Boxing Day win at home to Blackpool.

Four British girls – Zahmena Malik, Nadia Khan, Amina Hanif a Sanah Mehdi – everyone would enjoy a 2024 to remember, representing Pakistan in the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship and helping the nation end the year with their highest ever FIFA points total.

Rovers defender Batth made his 500th senior debut, while fellow stalwart Mal Benning he scored one of the most amazing goals in English football in 2024, netting directly from a 60-yard free-kick in his own half in Shrewsbury’s League One match against Blackpool.

Ronan Maher, joined Tamworth on loan from Walsall, also impressed as the year drew to a close, scoring an extra-time equalizer in the second round of the FA Cup against Burton Albion. Goalkeeper Jaz Singh would then go on to save two penalties to seal Tamworth’s progress to the third round and set up a dream third round tie against Tottenham Hotspur’s Ange Postecoglou in January.

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