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Luton Town Football Club welcome South Asian women | Luton Town Football Club welcome South Asian women |
(about 11 hours later) | |
About 100 women from the South Asian community attended a football match - a first for most of them. | About 100 women from the South Asian community attended a football match - a first for most of them. |
From Headscarves to Football Scarves is the brainchild of Butch Fazal from the National Asians in Football Forum. | From Headscarves to Football Scarves is the brainchild of Butch Fazal from the National Asians in Football Forum. |
The predominantly Muslim women watched Luton Town host Chester on Saturday. | The predominantly Muslim women watched Luton Town host Chester on Saturday. |
Mr Fazal said there was a "lack of provision and opportunities for South Asian women not only to participate, but also watch" football. | Mr Fazal said there was a "lack of provision and opportunities for South Asian women not only to participate, but also watch" football. |
"This community is under-represented in sport and we're hoping to address that," he said. | "This community is under-represented in sport and we're hoping to address that," he said. |
Mr Fazal's project has the backing of Luton Town Football Club who, he said, had "worked very hard over a number of years to develop a good relationship with the community". | Mr Fazal's project has the backing of Luton Town Football Club who, he said, had "worked very hard over a number of years to develop a good relationship with the community". |
He put notices about his plans in local football clubs, community centres and mosques. | He put notices about his plans in local football clubs, community centres and mosques. |
'Really welcoming' | |
Some students from Luton Sixth Form College, where Mr Fazal is a student development adviser, also took part. | Some students from Luton Sixth Form College, where Mr Fazal is a student development adviser, also took part. |
"Some mothers I spoke to were a little concerned about allowing their daughters to attend a match, so I extended the invitation to them," he said. | "Some mothers I spoke to were a little concerned about allowing their daughters to attend a match, so I extended the invitation to them," he said. |
"If you ask the South Asian community what it's like to be in a football stadium the majority of them don't know, and what they do know is only what they've heard in the past." | "If you ask the South Asian community what it's like to be in a football stadium the majority of them don't know, and what they do know is only what they've heard in the past." |
Nadia Gulfraz, who is training to be a football coach, said by taking part she hoped to inspire more women to attend matches. | Nadia Gulfraz, who is training to be a football coach, said by taking part she hoped to inspire more women to attend matches. |
"It's just the fact that they're a little bit worried about the reaction that we might get from the public," she said. | "It's just the fact that they're a little bit worried about the reaction that we might get from the public," she said. |
"Just looking at us and perceiving that why are Asian women here? That's the whole point of us doing it today. | "Just looking at us and perceiving that why are Asian women here? That's the whole point of us doing it today. |
"To say they are able to go to these matches, and it's not something out of the ordinary." | "To say they are able to go to these matches, and it's not something out of the ordinary." |
Speaking after the match one of the new fans said Luton's supporters were "really welcoming and made us feel part of the group... we didn't expect that to happen. | |
"It felt good being together, really united, we were all cheering for one team." |