West Ham academy graduate Anwar Uddin is set to leave his role at the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) to lead the Football Association’s efforts to make football for all.
sky sports news can exclusively reveal that Uddin, who is the brains behind the Fans for Diversity campaign, is set to take on the role of Diversity and Inclusion manager at the FA.
The FA and FSA were contacted by sky sports news for comment.
Londoner Uddin received his MBE at a ceremony at Windsor Castle last week after sky sports news revealed that he was being recognized for his services to football, alongside the likes of Gareth Bale and James Milner.
Uddin’s work on the Fans for Diversity campaign has resulted in the formation of over 200 fan groups, with over 15,000 fans from under-represented backgrounds having the opportunity to watch a match live for the first time.
The Londoner played alongside the likes of Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Glen Johnson and Jermain Defoe in his youth and famously captained West Ham to FA Youth Cup glory in 1999.
His former clubs include Bristol Rovers – where he made his debut in league football – Sheffield Wednesday, Barnet, Sutton United and Eastbourne Borough.
Uddin became the first British South Asian to captain a team in the league during his time with Dagenham & Redbridge, and also became the first British South Asian to lift a trophy under the arch at Wembley Stadium when the Daggers won the promotion to League One with a 3-2 over Rotherham in the 2010 League Two play-off Final.
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Anwar Uddin talks about representing South Asia in football with Nujum Sports Ambassador and fellow Briton-Bangladeshi Hamza Choudhury.
When former Barnet manager Martin Allen left the Bees for Notts County in 2011, Uddin became assistant manager to Giuliano Grazioli, with the pair winning the Hertfordshire Senior Cup and also keeping Barnet in the Football League.
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Sky Sports News breaks the story that Anwar Uddin is becoming the first former British footballer from South Asia in the history of the FA Board.
Uddin, whose father is from Sylhet, Bangladesh, had coaching spells at Maidstone United and the West Ham academy after hanging up his boots before coaching non-league sides Sporting Bengal United and Ware.
He spent two and a half years as Danny Searle’s assistant at Aldershot before rejoining another of his former managers at Barnet, Paul Fairclough, after sky sports news broke the news of his historic appointment as assistant manager of the England C team.
Uddin brought in three coaches of South Asian heritage to support the team in England C’s game against Cymru C (Wales), creating one of the most ethnically diverse shelters in the history of England international football.
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Anwar Uddin scores a Vincent Kompany-style goal for Rainbow Rovers in a charity match against a team of Premier League legends at Whitehawk FC to raise money for the Brighton Rainbow fund.
The former Daggers captain is expected to be on the bench when England face Cymru C at Altincham later this month in the fourth International Challenge Match between the two sides.
The two teams have won one each since the opening meeting in 2018, with the other game between the two teams ending in a draw.
England C manager Fairclough said: “Players on both sides will be keen to showcase their talent in what should be another fun and competitive game, which we are looking forward to.”
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Cymru C coach Mark Talbot added: “We know it will be a tough game against tough opposition and we will have to do our best to get a result.”
British South Asians in football
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