South Asian stories shared through football exhibit

Stories of identity, representation and community at a football academy are being shared through an exhibition to mark South Asian Heritage Month.

Striving for Unity, which is on display at The Galleria in Hatfield in July, includes the artwork and accounts of people who were part of the Letchworth-based Khalsa Youth Football Academy.

The exhibition explores how football and futsal have created opportunities for young people while helping to break down barriers faced by South Asian communities.

Ricky Dhillon, who joined the academy aged 10, said: "It has meant community for me - I always had a place to come back to where you can have a safe space to play and also just connect with others."

Bal Singh started Khalsa Youth Football Academy in the late 1980s after noticing barriers facing South Asian people in sport.

He said at the time, there was little representation at any level, from grassroots football through to the professional game.

"The reason we set up the academy was to give an opportunity for young Asians to have a platform to showcase their skill," he added.

More than three decades later, Bal believes football remains a powerful way of bringing people together.

"Sport is such a great way of breaking down language barriers. It's such a powerful way to bring different community groups together."

"It's about honouring stories, celebrating our identity and recognising the contributions the South Asian community has made," Bal added.

Dhillon, who progressed from player to futsal coach, added: "Being part of the academy since I was very young has made me think about how I impact the world and how I impact other people."

"I'm very humbled by [the exhibition] because it gives me motivation to tell others and hopefully they can have a story similar to mine."

Paul Singh, who has been involved with the academy for 15 years, spoke of the importance of seeing different people represented in football.

"As a South Asian community, we don't get a lot of representation within football. When I went through the academy, there were a lot of people from my background, so it felt more inclusive," he said.

Paul said looking back at those memories as an adult has given him a new appreciation for their importance.

"I get to look back at some of the stuff which, as a kid, I was involved in," he said.

Paul said displaying those stories publicly helps ensure South Asian experiences within football are recognised.

"It's about representation. It's about making sure those stories are heard because we don't necessarily get that exposure in the mainstream," he added.

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