Michael Chopra

Asians in Football

Ever since my earliest days I have always wanted to be the one out there scoring the goals and being the hero of the fans."

There has been much talk in recent years about why so few Asian footballers have made the grade in pro football. But the time for talk has passed.

At least a dozen Asian footballers are now signed to centres of excellence at English league clubs, and more than 70 are attached to clubs’ youth academies and coaching set ups across the country. These young Asian talents are about to change the football picture.

Michael Chopra made history in July 1999 when he became the first male player of Asian background to play for England since Hong Y ‘Frank’ Soo played in wartime internationals during the 1940s.

As a15 year-old Geordie he crowned the achievement by scoring the winner in England under-16s’ 2-1 victory over Argentina at Wembley. The former Newcastle United striker was even named man of the match. But his ambition was far from satisfied.

"I want to win the World Cup for England and I want to win the Championship for Newcastle," Michael said after his Wembley debut.

He is the son of an English mother and an Indian father, both lifelong Magpie fans who run a shop in Gateshead.

"I was proud enough that he had been picked to play for his country but the fact that he was the first South Asian to play for England made it doubly special," says his Dad, who saw Michael make his full debut at St James’s Park against Everton on November 6 2002.

Michael went to school where former England captain Alan Shearer learned his trade and dearly hopes to follow in his hero’s boot steps. "Ever since my earliest days I have always wanted to be the one out there scoring the goals and being the hero of the fans," he says.