Manisha Tailor MBE says the path to women’s elite football is not diverse and does not reflect UK demographics | Football news

Pioneering football coach Manisha Tailor MBE has told Sky Sports News that the path of elite women in British football lacks diversity.

PFA figures released earlier this year revealed just 9.7% of players at the game’s elite level are from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

The number of British South Asian experts in the top women’s football league accounts for only 0.3%. That’s despite South Asian women being the largest single ethnic minority group of women in the country and the worldwide success of the 2002 hit film. ‘Spin kick like Beckham’ based on an aspiring English footballer from South Asia.

Talking to Sky Sports News Ahead of this summer’s Women’s Euros, FA Women’s Football FA Director Baroness Sue Campbell admits the current system of talent identification and recruitment in the girls’ and women’s game excludes a lot of people.

Tailors, The current assistant head of academy coaching at QPR and the only woman of South Asian heritage to have ever held such a role in the game, has called for action to correct one of the major statistical anomalies. best in English football.

UEFA A License Tailor coach told Sky Sports News: “I don’t think the path for women in the elite game is varied. I don’t believe it is representative of the UK demographic.

“When I asked [the Football Association] for the data – I understand that certain data is protected and it’s very difficult to really get the full picture of how many South Asian women we have in the elite path – whether that’s the path leading to the Women’s Super League or the road to England.

“I think more needs to be done.”

The football association was unable to provide any ethnic data on the diverse representation of girls and women’s elite pathways when contacted. Sky Sports News.

The FA says its main aim is to provide more accessibility to more players while diversifying the talent pool, pointing out Discover my talent make no sense and introduce Sky Sports News to it Asia integration strategy updated and wider Diversity and Inclusion strategy.

Tailor’s Book ‘Dream Like Me: South Asian Football Trailbazers’ just released during National Inclusion Week and profile some people from the community working in and around the game.

Based on interviews and aimed at school-age children, the story illustrates some of the barriers South Asian Britons face in football, providing young readers with lessons for the future. .

Sanderson: Diversity of talent has nothing to do with

Meanwhile, former England striker Lianne Sanderson says the bottleneck in girls’ paths for female talent from diverse ethnicities is a real source of concern.

Ethnic diversity representation at England’s team level became a topic of conversation again in 2021 when England fielded an all-white squad for the game against Northern Ireland.

Demi Stokes and Nikita Parris were absent, and Ebony Salmon was eventually included in the squad, but England chose an all-white starting lineup for the game. This issue was brought into focus again in the summer when England have named the all-white starting XI for every game of their stunning Women’s Euro campaign, which has seen them go on and lift trophy.

Asked by Hayley McQueen, live on Sky Sports News, on the visibility of ethnically diverse players at the highest level, Sanderson said: “There was a team selected for England a few years ago that didn’t represent any people of color and a lot People have a lot to say about this, but for me it’s been a stimulant effect for a number of years.

“When I played for Arsenal, it wasn’t like there were any of us. There were so many of us: myself, Rachel Yankey, Alex Scott, Anita Asante, the list could go on and I’m concerned that there aren’t a lot of younger players, playing at the base and then passing because, for me, I think it’s being blocked somewhere.

“I don’t know why, and having all these surveys come out, and I think the PFA is doing a really good job, but it’s all about it.

“And [England manager] Sarina Wiegman talked about it in Euros, she doesn’t shy away from it, because it’s obvious. When you look at WSL, there aren’t many people of color on the team – and that can’t be true.

“Now, I’m not saying that we should choose people based on the color of their skin – that’s not what I used to say – I’m just saying there must be a problem somewhere, because there aren’t many people out there. we game.”

Sanderson added: “Visibility is everything, and like I said, it’s not about choosing people based on their skin color or gender, but about choosing the right people for the job and giving us the opportunity. there.

“I think having these kinds of conversations hopefully changes that and brings awareness to it, because at the Euros it was something that was pretty obvious to me.

“Obviously over the last two or three years, but I’m not always the person, Hayley, to talk about it all the time.

“It also needs others to speak up. It’s been raised in the Euros, and hopefully we’ll start to see more young players coming into the system with diverse backgrounds and good enough to play for the team. England team.”

How Sky is trying to change

Sports sky recognize and start taking steps to address the lack of diversity in the women’s game by 2020 as part of a £30m commitment to tackle systemic racism and make a difference in communities across the UK.

Sports sky worked with dozens of current and former players from diverse ethnic backgrounds, and tried to provide them with a platform to share their stories to try and capture the imagination to pass on. Inspiring the next generation of female players.

Talent has been identified and signed directly with the Football Association and other international federations, and professional clubs as part of the Sports Sky’ unprecedented commitment to Britons in South Asia in Football, which also sees us dedicate a section of our website to raising awareness about South Asians in the Gameand create your own blog.

A number of potential and elite female players and their families have also been provided with mentoring support and access to off-field development opportunities.

Earlier this year, Sky Sports also partnered with the country’s largest sports race equality charity, Sporting Equals, has seen us support nationwide engagement, including development ‘Seeing is believing’ event for the centuries-old west London sports club at Indian Gymkhana.

South Asian British in football

For more stories, features and videos, visit our breakout South Asian Football Page on skysports.com and South Asians in the Game blog and follow Sky Sports News and Our Digital Sky Sports