A Bradford City youth coach is being used as an ambassador by the Football Association to encourage more British Asian players into the game.

The FA hope Pav Singh's appointment with the Bantams will help the talented youngsters join the ranks of the professionals.

Mr Singh, 30, a successful former City youth player who went on to play semi-professionally for Farsley Celtic, Harrogate Town and Albion Sports, has returned to the club as manager and coach of the Under-11s side.

He acknowledged there were desperately few Asian professional players in the English game.

He said: "I'm from a south Asian background, but there's a lack of role models out there.

"There are a lot of Asian kids playing football on the streets and in their back yards, but there are probably four professional players from south Asia and that's not a lot.

"I believe I'm a role model - it's probably sent out a lot of belief, people saying look there's an Asian coach working at a professional level'. If I open some doors it'll be fantastic."

Simon Johnson, director of corporate affairs at the FA, said: "It's great to have someone of Pav's determination and motivation to inspire more ethnic minorities about football.

"His appointment is a sign we are making very real steps to improve integration across all levels of the game."

Mr Singh has already gained FA coaching qualifications up to Level Three, allowing him to coach in a professional capacity. He is now working towards his Level Four qualification, which will allow him to coach and manage at the highest level.

He ties in his coaching role at City with his job as a community sports and activities development officer for Bradford Council.

He is part of a youth coaching team at the club which includes Alan Nevison, the club's skills development coach, and Peter Horne, a former Manchester United Academy coach and youth development officer.

Mr Horne said Mr Singh's appointment was part of City's continuing programme of inter-community development which has seen centres set up across the district to make football opportunities more accessible to all communities.

Mr Horne said: "Pav's a superb acquisition on two counts - not only is he great coach and motivator of players but, of course, he's Asian and for a club that's trying to reach out to all sections of the community, that's a huge plus.

"Pav's got a great personality and is just the kind of person we want to be bringing on board."

e-mail: sunita.bhatti@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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