Manisha Tailor, MBE, is the Assistant Head of Coaching (U9-U16) at QPR Football Club, and the only person of South Asian heritage to be working as a coach in the English professional game. Manisha has a background in primary education and trained as a headteacher before embarking on a football career. She is the founder of Swaggerlicious, an organisation that uses football and education to engage with Black, Asian, and Minority groups and women work with Show Racism the Red Card delivering anti-racism workshops and holds an advisory role as vice-chair (coaching) on the British Asians in Sport and Physical Activity board. In 2017 she received an MBE for services to football and diversity in sport.
With the Lionesses winning the Euros last month and the World Cup being held this year in Qatar, it is an incredibly exciting time in football. And in this exciting time, comes a book called Dream Like Me by Manisha Tailor showcasing South Asian trailblazers who are pioneering individuals working in all parts of the game – from male and female players to coaches, referees, board members, administrators, sports scientists and medical staff. Their stories are incredible and I can’t believe how many of these amazing individuals’ stories aren’t featured more in mainstream media.
In this first-of-its-kind book, trailblazing coach Manisha Tailor profiles 42 pioneering individuals working in all parts of the game – from male and female players to coaches, referees, board members, administrators, sports scientists and medical staff – and representing different cultures and faiths within the British South Asian community.
Based on interviews, these powerful stories not only illustrate the challenges faced by these role models but lessons that they can offer young readers. Young people need to see people like them believe that dreams are possible: the role models in this inspirational book will show South Asian children and teens that their football dreams can come true.
Here’s her exclusive interview with Asian Voice:
You are the Assistant Head of Coaching (U9-U16) at QPR Football Club, which makes you the only person of South Asian heritage in that respective role. How does it feel to be in that position and do you come across any challenges while working as a woman from an ethnic minority background?
I am honoured to be in a position of influence and will endeavour to use my platform and position to create change within the game. QPR are an inclusive club and one that provides equality in access to opportunities. You are appointed on merit regardless of any protected characteristics. There have definitely been challenges, especially in navigating my way through a male-dominated environment. I have learned that you have to be bold and resilient and persist through a journey that is most definitely a bumpy road.
How did you join the football club? What did you study? How supportive was your family?
I joined the club as a volunteer in April 2016, following a meeting with Chris Ramsey (QPR’s Technical Director and Head of Coaching). We initially met at St George’s Park at an event in 2014 and I remember him telling me that it's important to take the time to learn your trade. He emphasised on the journey not being linear and that it shouldn’t be rushed – it was important to get as much experience as possible on the grass and in different environments.
Please tell us a bit about Swaggarlicious.
Swaggarlicious uses the power of football and education to work with young people and adults, engaging them in conversations around mental health and different aspects of diversity. This could be through workshops, talks or adult training.
How did you come up with the title of the book and what was your process to select the 42 stories?
During my time as a teacher, I had worked across various schools and within different cultural demographics and had always wondered why there were few texts, supported by illustrations, of people from diverse communities; texts that represented the children that we had in our school.
When I transitioned into working in football, I found that although improving, there remained a lack of representation from the South Asian community across all levels of the game, despite it being one of the single largest ethnic minority groups to be living in the UK.
During the lockdown whilst on flexible furlough I had the time to think and plan ideas that could provide solutions to this issue – from there the idea of creating a children’s story with 42 male and female trailblazers was born.
Do you think your book will be able to educate and compel south Asian parents and women to pursue a career in football?
I think that as this book contains a variety of different narratives as so many work in a variety of roles within the world of football, it will compel parents and women to dream and believe that there is a space for them in the game. The book highlights the challenges that different individuals have faced and the strategies that they have used to overcome setbacks. There is an emphasis on signature strengths that have helped those featured to be the best possible version of themselves. This is something that children and adults can reflect upon.
What is your goal when it comes to the reach of this book? What can our readers take away from it?
Young people need to see people like them believe that dreams are possible. I would like this book to start conversations about overcoming adversity and using role models within the industry. I would also like to open conversations about mental health, using the lessons for good mental health and questions for thinking. This should encourage families to explore and share their beliefs about representation in elite sports, career pathways and mental health.
