“Going forward, it is something we will continue with."
Dozens of children, mostly from South Asian backgrounds, took part in recent Premier League Emerging Talent Festivals.
The festivals are part of the South Asian Action Plan (SAAP), which aims to improve the presence of British South Asian players in Academy football.
Launched in the 2021/22 season, the plan is a key part of the Premier League’s No Room For Racism Action Plan.
More than 3,000 children and 400 grassroots coaches have so far engaged with the SAAP. Twenty-four Premier League and EFL clubs have taken part.
Regional events were held in Birmingham, Manchester and London. These are part of wider efforts to increase diversity across football.
Jack Bell, a Games Programme Events Consultant at the Premier League, supported the Birmingham event.
Bell explained: “As part of the No Room For Racism campaign, the Premier League now do a series of festivals giving South Asian players the opportunity to play and ultimately see if there is a potential pathway to Academy football.”
In Birmingham, matches were held at Goals Black Country. Local Under-8s and Under-9s teams represented Aston Villa, Derby County and Walsall.
Derby’s Loan Recruitment Manager, James Lukic, attended the event and praised the community’s impact.
He said: “Derby has a large South Asian population, so for us to give an opportunity to players from that community is massive.
“Going forward, it is something we will continue with. We want it to be sustained.
“This is a great organised tournament by the Premier League. We are more than happy to enter teams and play a part in it, and the lads are absolutely loving it.”
The SAAP includes research to understand the barriers facing South Asian players. It also promotes equality and inclusion across football.
Uthman Hussain, an Academy Coach at Aston Villa, stressed the importance of inclusivity:
“Football is for everyone. It is everybody’s game, not just for certain individuals.
“Having everyone here, different cultures, will help build the game, not just for the players but for the sport itself.”
Walsall’s Under-9s Academy Coach, Tom Churchill, also welcomed the initiative.
Churchill said: “Coming along today and seeing these events the Premier League are putting on is superb and something we really support.
“We’ve come here because we think it’s important to support events such as this for the community and represent our area.”
In May 2025, selected players from grassroots clubs will represent professional teams at the National Premier League Emerging Talent Festival.
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