The Football Diary

A year-long diary captures the journey of me, an Indian-origin, British-born soccer manager leading an all-white team in an amateur football league in Sunderland during the 2003-2004 season.

This narrative is drawn from reports and diary entries shared online throughout that time. Interestingly, the on-field action takes a backseat, overshadowed by the prevailing opinions of the era. The diary entries, penned either on the day of the events or shortly after, exhibit varying writing styles, reflecting the author’s genuine emotions and observations. At times, the tone is one of immediate frustration and being pissed off (more games lost than won), while other entries reveal a more contemplative and relaxed demeanor (but usually still pissed off).

As a British Asian navigating the early 2000s, the author witnessed a society in transition. Once feeling like mere “guests” in the UK, many Asians began to establish their place within the white British society – especially in ex-coal mining areas such as the north east.