South Asian Talent ID
Breaking down barriers and creating genuine pathways for South Asian footballers in Birmingham — in partnership with Birmingham City Foundation.
The Programme
South Asian footballers are historically underrepresented in professional football in England — despite South Asian communities being among the most passionate and numerous football supporters in the country. In Birmingham, where South Asian communities make up a significant proportion of the population, this gap is particularly stark.
In partnership with Birmingham City Foundation, our South Asian Talent ID programme takes young players from inner-city Birmingham to Premier League events, training sessions and coaching environments — with the explicit aim of identifying talent and creating pathways to the Birmingham City Academy.
We are committed to ensuring South Asian talent in Birmingham has the same opportunities as any other young player in the city.
How It Works
Identification
We identify talented South Asian players across our community sessions, schools programme and the Greet Mini League.
Premier League Experiences
Selected players are taken to Premier League events and training ground visits — raising aspirations and building connections.
Coaching & Development
Players are coached and developed in environments that mirror professional academy settings, with feedback from experienced scouts and coaches.
Academy Trials
The best players are put forward for trials at Birmingham City FC Academy — a direct, formal pathway from community football to professional consideration.
Sported Panel
We sit on a Sported panel focused on sharing best practice on how to engage South Asian footballers in Birmingham. This work directly informs our programme design and helps us connect with other organisations working in this space.
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