Asha has gone from a passionate supporter to a qualified coach, all thanks to her love of women’s football.
Inspired by the players she admires, she’s built experience across community football, disability sessions and children’s coaching. Now, she wants to help aspiring young players find their place in football.
Asha shared her story with BTP, discussing the players who inspired her, her journey into coaching and her ambitions to make football accessible to every child.
Asha’s football journey all started with finding her club, Arsenal, and discovering one player in particular who she looks up to.
“Football has never been just a game to me. It has been a huge part of my life, my inspiration and the person I am becoming. Supporting Arsenal Women has given me so many memories that I will always carry with me. Watching the players play and following their journeys has made me realise just how powerful women’s football can be.”
“They aren’t just footballers I watch on a pitch; they have helped shape the way I see football and what it can mean to people. Steph Catley has become particularly important to me. Her journey, her attitude and the way she carries herself have given me someone to look up to.”
Meeting some of the Arsenal squad proved to be a turning point for Asha.
“Those experiences made my connection with Arsenal even stronger. But eventually, I started to realise that I didn’t just want to watch football. I wanted to be part of it.”
That experience, combined with her love of Arsenal, motivated her to find her own path into football. The club had played a huge part in inspiring her, but she was ready to get involved in a different way.
“My Arsenal journey eventually opened the door to coaching. I joined the Arsenal in the Community Coach Development Programme, and what started as an opportunity to develop my coaching became one of the most important experiences of my life.
“Through Arsenal, I have been able to coach children and young people aged 5–16 across different programmes and environments. I have worked with players with mixed abilities and different learning needs, including players with autism, ADHD, Down syndrome and other additional needs.”
That experience has helped Asha understand that coaching involves much more than teaching football skills. Recognising the individual needs of each player has become central to her approach.
“The biggest thing coaching has taught me is that every player is different. There isn’t one perfect way to coach. Some players need a demonstration, some need simple instructions, some need extra time and some need an activity adapted so they can take part confidently. Sometimes a player simply needs someone to believe in them.”
“For me, coaching is about putting the person first. I want every child I coach to feel safe, included, valued and confident enough to be themselves.”
Working with children with disabilities has been particularly important to Asha, showing her how the right environment can help young people feel comfortable and confident on the pitch. For her, football should be accessible to everyone.
“I want football to feel accessible. I want a child who might struggle in another environment to walk onto my pitch and feel like they belong. That is the kind of coach I want to become.”
Asha’s coaching experience hasn’t been limited to Arsenal. She’s also gained experience with North London United, Football Plus, Kicks disability sessions and school coaching. These opportunities have allowed her to work with different age groups, abilities and personalities, each teaching her new lessons along the way.
“Each experience has taught me something different. I’ve learned how to work with different age groups, different abilities and different personalities. I’ve also learned that being a coach means constantly adapting and learning yourself.”
Completing her UEFA C Licence marked another important milestone for Asha, bringing together her practical experience and growing understanding of player development. It also represented another step towards building a future in coaching.
“Alongside my practical coaching experience, I wanted to continue developing my knowledge. I worked towards my UEFA C Licence, learning more about session planning, player development, coaching behaviours and how to create practices with clear outcomes.
“Eventually, I completed and passed my UEFA C Licence. That achievement was incredibly important to me because it showed how far I had come. I had gone from someone who simply loved watching football to someone who had developed the knowledge, qualifications and experience to coach the next generation.”
Throughout her development as a coach, one thing has remained constant: her love of Arsenal.
The players who once inspired her now serve as a reminder of the impact she hopes to have on young people coming through football.
“Even though I am now a coach myself, Arsenal Women remain a huge part of my inspiration. Watching players like Steph Catley, Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and the rest of the team reminds me why I fell in love with football in the first place. They have shown me that football can inspire people beyond what happens during 90 minutes.
“And now I get to experience that from another perspective. Instead of only watching someone else play, I get to stand on a pitch and help a child learn something new. Instead of only being inspired by footballers, I can hopefully become someone who inspires the next generation of players. That is something I don’t take for granted.”
Looking ahead, Asha knows she wants to continue building her future in football.
“I don’t know exactly where coaching will take me. But I know that I want to continue working in football, particularly within women’s football, community football, children’s coaching and inclusive football.
“I want to keep developing as a coach. I want to work with more young players. I want to create opportunities for children who might not always feel that football is for them. And, if possible, I would love to continue my journey with Arsenal in some capacity.
Looking back at how far she’s come, Asha is focused on what she wants her journey to represent.
“Arsenal gave me the inspiration. Coaching gave me a purpose. And now I want to help give the next generation their own football story.”
