Article that talks about Leicester...

[Shrenchel]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/7912357.stm

Kick It Out director Piara Power thinks that clubs can still do a lot more to attract British Asian fans.

"Leicester City, for example, will have an ethnic minority majority in a few years and they need to understand that and reach out in a way that is meaningful. Also children who cannot afford to go to a match need to be given an opportunity to go and try it," said Power.

That's fook all about Leicester really isn't it. Move it to general sport if you like.

Personally, I can understand what the guy is saying. The ratio of fans to the general population is simply shocking but can't say I've got many ideas on how to improve on that situation. I wouldn't be against giving away free tickets to certain sections of the community but I guess that idea would be met with disgust by certain people who would consider it PC favourtism. But for me, they've got to understand that if population trends of Leicester continue and the vast majority of people of Asian origin continue to stay away, then in sense the club will be left with a hypothetical fan base that's a lot less than half of what is already not a very big city.

Things like the Bristol Rovers incidents really don't help. However much of a tiny idiotic minority it may be nowadays, I'd no doubt think twice about paying 23 quid to get racially abused on a saturday afternoon.

Can't say I necessarily agree with the kids thing though. I think it's really pretty cheap to a youngster to a city match.

[Guest]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/7912357.stm

That's fook all about Leicester really isn't it. Move it to general sport if you like.

Personally, I can understand what the guy is saying. The ratio of fans to the general population is simply shocking but can't say I've got many ideas on how to improve on that situation. I wouldn't be against giving away free tickets to certain sections of the community but I guess that idea would be met with disgust by certain people who would consider it PC favourtism. But for me, they've got to understand that if population trends of Leicester continue and the vast majority of people of Asian origin continue to stay away, then in sense the club will be left with a hypothetical fan base that's a lot less than half of what is already not a very big city.

Things like the Bristol Rovers incidents really don't help. However much of a tiny idiotic minority it may be nowadays, I'd no doubt think twice about paying 23 quid to get racially abused on a saturday afternoon.

Can't say I necessarily agree with the kids thing though. I think it's really pretty cheap to a youngster to a city match.

I'm sure that giving away tickets to one particular section of society ahead of any others would indeed be met with disdain. Besides which, I can't imagine how I'd feel being given free tickets ahead of somebody else purely based upon my religion/ethnic origin/skin colour/social class etc. Probably quite patronised

What happened at Brizzle Rovers? I was there but didn't hear or see owt goin on. But then I was on the front row in the seated stand, hardly the most raucous of areas

EDIT: Also, as far as I'm aware there are plenty of discounted schemes for kids to go. Fortunately we're on a bit of a run and hopefully going straight back up to the championship, so probably a good time to get kids in so they can enjoy the team winning and experience a level of success

[davieG]

Maybe the majority aren't interested, I'm sure there's some that stay away due to the perceived atmosphere but this also applies to white families. You also don't see many African/West Indian fans down there.

Also why is it always football that is at the butt of these 'accusations' why is Rugby Union not sited for it's lack of Asian, African and working class whites

[Thracian]

I wonder how much effort the Indian community in Leicester is making to get white English guys to watch hockey? I'm sure they've got better things to do.

If asians want to watch football what the hell is stopping them any more than me watching hockey?

And since when have Asians been excluded? I get fecking sick of arsehole activists making sweeping statements that only fuel the conception that, somehow, white English people are racist.

I park in a Chinese Supermarket out of choice on match days and am happy to give them the keys to my car if they need to move it. If Singhy or Raj or anyone else from a different ethnic background were sitting next to me at a match, I'd be delighted. And so, I believe, would everyone I know on this forum so where does this idea of people being unwelcome come from?

I've never heard such patronising bullshit which, which, once again, only emphasises the perception of difference which does more to fan the concept of racist than it ever does good.

As for giving out cheap tickets to the poorest I very much doubt you'd start with Asian kids.

It all sounds to me like someone who's got a vested in preserving his own job.

[Dr The Singh]

The guy is being paid to come out with such tripe is comical!!!

In my experience, racism still exist at football, but things have dramitically improved since the eithies and nineties, and that IMO has very little to do with 'kick racism out' and other gimic type exploits and very little to do with footy clubs (believe me i've had words with one peter jones and that guy has his head up his arse), but it's due to intermingling of various breeds of society! Leicester is a glowing example, interms of a footy club, but if you compare with clubs like Leeds, the ethnic groups and whites tend not to mingle and hence you find that Leeds doesn't have the cultural diversity at it's ground!!!

Change takes time, with time, let's hope there won't be a need for people like powar!!

[Dr The Singh]

I wonder how much effort the Indian community in Leicester is making to get white English guys to watch hockey? I'm sure they've got better things to do.

If asians want to watch football what the hell is stopping them any more than me watching hockey?

And since when have Asians been excluded? I get fecking sick of arsehole activists making sweeping statements that only fuel the conception that, somehow, white English people are racist.

I park in a Chinese Supermarket out of choice on match days and am happy to give them the keys to my car if they need to move it. If Singhy or Raj or anyone else from a different ethnic background were sitting next to me at a match, I'd be delighted. And so, I believe, would everyone I know on this forum so where does this idea of people being unwelcome come from?

I've never heard such patronising bullshit which, which, once again, only emphasises the perception of difference which does more to fan the concept of racist than it ever does good.

As for giving out cheap tickets to the poorest I very much doubt you'd start with Asian kids.

It all sounds to me like someone who's got a vested in preserving his own job.

Thracian, there are more whites playing hockey then asians you numpty, if you said Kabaddi then that would be different!!

By the way, i'm glad to SIngh's taking the initiative at SUnderland, wolves and Villa!!!

[adam]

The one thing i have noticed is that the majority of my indian friends/work colleagues support one of the 'big 4' Not a clue why but none of them have any time for City.

[Thracian]

Thracian, there are more whites playing hockey then asians you numpty, if you said Kabaddi then that would be different!!

I've no idea if there are more whites play hockey than asians. My point was that hockey has always seemed like a major sport to asian people yet I very much doubt that the asian community either in Leicester or anywhere else in the world devote time to urging whites to go and watch.

Why should they? If I fancied watching an Asian team play hockey, either here or in India, I would. I might well be in the minority, racially, but so what? There may even be individuals who'd resent my presence but I doubt the vast majority would give a toss.

As you and others have obviously demonstrated, if people from asian or other non-English backgrounds want to enjoy a football match they've only got to turn up and buy their ticket.

But I'd far rather this happened naturally than have some self-serving activist make an issue of it.

[Thracian]

The one thing i have noticed is that the majority of my indian friends/work colleagues support one of the 'big 4' Not a clue why but none of them have any time for City.

Because they want to be associated with what they see as success. A because the players they see on television are the most familiar to them.

[Dr The Singh]

The one thing i have noticed is that the majority of my indian friends/work colleagues support one of the 'big 4' Not a clue why but none of them have any time for City.

Foooking glory supporters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dr The Singh]

I've no idea if there are more whites play hockey than asians. My point was that hockey has always seemed like a major sport to asian people yet I very much doubt that the asian community either in Leicester or anywhere else in the world devote time to urging whites to go and watch.

Why should they? If I fancied watching an Asian team play hockey, either here or in India, I would. I might well be in the minority, racially, but so what? There may even be individuals who'd resent my presence but I doubt the vast majority would give a toss.

As you and others have obviously demonstrated, if people from asian or other non-English backgrounds want to enjoy a football match they've only got to turn up and buy their ticket.

But I'd far rather this happened naturally than have some self-serving activist make an issue of it.

Exactly!!!

[bluebeau]

IMO the reason that Asian folk do not come to The Walkers, is not down to racism.

As I have said before on this forum, I have been going to watch city for many years, & I have never witnessed racism from our own crowd.

I think the reason they don't go is so simple. They don't want to watch live football because it's not been a part of their cultural upbringing.

How do India & Pakistan, do in football World Cup competition? Do they even enter the competition? But ask the same questions regarding cricket & you get completely different answers.

How many professional Indian/Pakistani players are there in our game?

These PC do-gooders make me sick, they are probably the biggest cause of creating racist problems, setting white against non-white with their stupid statements.

I think it's fair to say, LCFC have tried hard to encourage Asians to come down to Filbert Street & The Walkers, & also to try to recruit them into the sport, but without much success.

[Monk]

Agree with the sentiment in replies. Have been watching city for 15 years and the ethnic diversity of the crowd is not in any way reflective of Leicester as a city, HOWEVER it probably is more representitive if you include Leicestershire as a county, as the towns and villages are predominantly white. In Oakham for example which has a decent Leicester following I only know ONE non European and he runs the corner shop.

Seems a hugely misplaced article. There are no barriers excluding ANY group in Leicester from the football and as others have said I can sit next to someone from any ethnicity and treat them the same.

[Dr The Singh]

IMO the reason that Asian folk do not come to The Walkers, is not down to racism.

As I have said before on this forum, I have been going to watch city for many years, & I have never witnessed racism from our own crowd.

I think the reason they don't go is so simple. They don't want to watch live football because it's not been a part of their cultural upbringing.

How do India & Pakistan, do in football World Cup competition? Do they even enter the competition? But ask the same questions regarding cricket & you get completely answers.

How many professional Indian/Pakistani players are there in our game?

These PC do-gooders make me sick, they are probably the biggest cause of creating racist problems, setting white against non-white with their stupid statements.

I think it's fair to say, LCFC have tried hard to encourage Asians to come down to Filbert Street & The Walkers, & also to try to recruit them into the sport, but without much success.

SOme really good points, most asians are now 3rd generation and hence less attached to there cultures, but Leicester does have more asians visitng there club then majority of other teams, this can only be seen as success!!!

[Raj]

Agree with the sentiment in replies. Have been watching city for 15 years and the ethnic diversity of the crowd is not in any way reflective of Leicester as a city, HOWEVER it probably is more representitive if you include Leicestershire as a county, as the towns and villages are predominantly white. In Oakham for example which has a decent Leicester following I only know ONE non European and he runs the corner shop.

Seems a hugely misplaced article. There are no barriers excluding ANY group in Leicester from the football and as others have said I can sit next to someone from any ethnicity and treat them the same.

Was it-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSi1d7F6bgo...feature=related

Most asians are too fcuking tight to pay the money!!!!

Ive has an ST for over 15 odd years and ive had racist shit from City fans as well as away fans.

And we've had it going to away fans and been "saved" by fellow City fans too

I couldnt give a fcuk about them ****** who give me shit.

My City is my only love when it comes to sport. (even though i give some of you shit when India play England at Cricket!!!!)

Things like that are in the blood or family(My older Bro was a diehard City fan!)

The club DO try to introduce Non whites to Walkers but bar dragging them in kicking and screaming theres not much they can do.

Im sure if we are ever to play Man U or Loonypool theyd come in their swarms....to chear on Man U or Looneypool!!!

Who needs more fans when we got Bernie!!!

Up the City!!!

[Fosse Boy]

By the way, i'm glad to SIngh's taking the initiative at SUnderland, wolves and Villa!!!

There was a good article in FourFourTwo a while back about British Asians in football, I seem to remember it concentrated on the Punjabi Wolves Supporters Club.

[Corky]

The person is assuming rather than giving a firm answer. Asians may well refuse the tickets, so what do we do then?

As Thrac says, if they want to go they'll go. So obviously they don't want to, and davie G said that West Indians and Africans don't go either, which is a good point.

Bloody hell, we have enough trouble attracting our lost fan-base back!

[C-man]

If Power went to a school in Leicester and asked every Asian lads if they followed football, 90% would say 'Yes' and I suspect quite a few girls follow it aswell. If he then asked who they support, I don't think many more than 5% would say Leicester.

The vast majority support United, Arsenal and Liverpool, and I just don't know why....

[Kilworthfox]

If Power went to a school in Leicester and asked every Asian lads if they followed football, 90% would say 'Yes' and I suspect quite a few girls follow it aswell. If he then asked who they support, I don't think many more than 5% would say Leicester.

The vast majority support United, Arsenal and Liverpool, and I just don't know why....

Possibly a theory but the native whites have a longer standing history with the local area than the non white communities who have moved over to this country since the last century.

i support LCFC bacause my family always have and it is a natural thing for me to have the association I have with LCFC, where as if my family had not been such staunch LCFC fans then I could have easily supported some other team, not my local team.

[Babylon]

When I had a season ticket at filbo there were 3/4 asian blokes sat behind me... supported Leicester all year until we played Liverpool and they all turned up in Liverpool tops!! Bloody glory hunters!

I know loads of asian lads who follow football, but as has been mentioned before they all support a big four team. I support city because they are my local team and it's all about local pride... do lots of Asians not feel that affiliated to the city yet? After a few more generations are born here maybe they will do.

Who knows.

[Bellend Sebastian]

Possibly a theory but the native whites have a longer standing history with the local area than the non white communities who have moved over to this country since the last century.

i support LCFC bacause my family always have and it is a natural thing for me to have the association I have with LCFC, where as if my family had not been such staunch LCFC fans then I could have easily supported some other team, not my local team.

I'm sure there's at least some truth in that. In my experience, the strongest influence on getting a youngster supporting their local club is actually being taken to watch them. If your family isn't interested, there's much less chance of that happening. I think this is why a lot of kids (and not just Asian ones) support other teams, because if you open a newspaper or turn on the telly you're just as likely to hear about a team other than your local one, which even if it's a couple of miles away might as well be on the moon if no-one takes you or you haven't got any money.

I was a late comer to becoming a proper City fan for that very reason. I could only go when I had enough money of my own to buy tickets, and I was sixteen before I had any money at all.

I don't think there's anything sinister about asking why Asians are so poorly represented both on the pitch and in the crowd. When I was at school nearly all the Asian lads loved football, and a lot were decent players, so it's a bit of a mystery to me. From a purely business point of view, if you had a stadium that was rarely even two thirds full but half the local population was barely represented there, you'd want to know why. Assuming that they're 'just not interested' and not question it or find out the reasons is a failure to exploit a potential opportunity.

As far as encouraging the Asian population (or indeed any section of the community), of course you can provide them with incentives such as free tickets without it being unfair. If you dish out freebies in Belgrave or Highfields, as long as you're dishing out the same in Beaumont Leys and Eyres Monsell (all places are just examples, before anyone gets excited), what's the problem? The chances are that they'll find their way to where you want them to go without having to do anything as crass as specifically giving them to a certain ethnic group.

I've been typing this over a long time so the conversation has probably moved on by now

[Rich Fox]

The majority are not interested you can blame LCFC but what are the club supposed to do. Its a real shame as most people couldnt give a shit about someones skin colour but its as if a lot of ethnic minoritys go out of there way not to fit in. I dont believe its a cultural thing as plenty of asians like football and as for giving them free tickets what a joke just shows how this country has gone to the dogs.

[Koke]

I'm sure there's at least some truth in that. In my experience, the strongest influence on getting a youngster supporting their local club is actually being taken to watch them. If your family isn't interested, there's much less chance of that happening. I think this is why a lot of kids (and not just Asian ones) support other teams, because if you open a newspaper or turn on the telly you're just as likely to hear about a team other than your local one, which even if it's a couple of miles away might as well be on the moon if no-one takes you or you haven't got any money.

I was a late comer to becoming a proper City fan for that very reason. I could only go when I had enough money of my own to buy tickets, and I was sixteen before I had any money at all.

I don't think there's anything sinister about asking why Asians are so poorly represented both on the pitch and in the crowd. When I was at school nearly all the Asian lads loved football, and a lot were decent players, so it's a bit of a mystery to me. From a purely business point of view, if you had a stadium that was rarely even two thirds full but half the local population was barely represented there, you'd want to know why. Assuming that they're 'just not interested' and not question it or find out the reasons is a failure to exploit a potential opportunity.

As far as encouraging the Asian population (or indeed any section of the community), of course you can provide them with incentives such as free tickets without it being unfair. If you dish out freebies in Belgrave or Highfields, as long as you're dishing out the same in Beaumont Leys and Eyres Monsell (all places are just examples, before anyone gets excited), what's the problem? The chances are that they'll find their way to where you want them to go without having to do anything as crass as specifically giving them to a certain ethnic group.

I've been typing this over a long time so the conversation has probably moved on by now

That's exactly what it is. I support Leicester whereas most, if not all, of the lads from my ethnic background in my generation support top 4 club.

The difference between me & them was that I was taken to Filbert St. as a kid, and they weren't taken anywhere, not Molinuex, not The Hawthorns. They ended up watching Arsenal on telly and now 15 years later they are hardcore Arsenal fans and I'm a hardcore Leicester fan.

It wasn't and still isn't in our culture to take your kids to local football matches. I know a few east African lads who support Cardiff and a few who support the two Sheffield clubs, but other than that majority are Arsenal and Man U fans due to them not being exposed to live local matches when they were young.

[demon_dog]

At least LCFC do get a fair few Asian supporters.

My brother works for the Tigers and he has told me that no matter what the club try to do to promote Rugby within the Asian community, nothing seems to work. It simply isn't a sport that they support.

As has been mentioned football is a multicultural sport within the community, as to why so many do not come to matches, I and many others more knowledgeable could not say.

A couple of good friends of mine, one is chinese, he supports Liverpool, never even been to their ground. The other a Greek supports ManU , again he's never been to their ground.

So what hope do city have?

As we all know, when we return to the Premiership fans will come crawling out of the woodwork, trying to get tickets to see us play their favourite team.

In which case it's sod you all, you should come and support us.

Yet again I do not go to watch Cricket, can't stand the game, never have, never will.

Anyone know what support do the cricket club get from the Asian community, this is after all supposed to be their favourite game.

[Joe.]

The people who write these things don't understand matters themselves.

I agree with most of the other comments in here; I'd say at least 90% of the Asian football fans I know support a big four team, and that's a fact. It's the same virtually everywhere, so it's bollocks that "clubs can do more" to reach out to these fans.