On the 15th of July 2005, to mark Sporting Khalsa FC becoming the first Asian club in the UK to own its own ground, the Saddlers will be paying them a visit…


Walsall FC's Paul Merson is standing on the sidelines. His managerial mousey fringe has just been tousled by the draught from Gurdip’s flight across the pitch. Gurdip passes to Harpreet. From Harpreet to Bharpinder. Bharpinder boots the ball across to Dharminder. Leon accepts Dharminder’s delivery and with a deft flick is past the Saddlers’ remaining defender. Leon shoots. He scores! He scores!
SK FC: Leon Brown, Jas Singh, Adam Shakespeare
SK FC: Leon, Jaswinder and Adam

This could be the scene at Sporting Khalsa’s new ground on Friday evening, 15th July 2005.

On the 15th, to mark Sporting Khalsa FC becoming the first semi-professional, predominately Asian club in the country to own its own ground, Walsall FC will be paying them a visit, to play a friendly match. The game is being backed by the "Kick It Out" anti-racism campaign.

Since they formed as a single Sunday League team 14 years ago, Sporting Khalsa have grown and grown – they currently run football teams from the age of 6 to 16 as well as a ladies team and a senior team in Division 1 of the West Midlands Regional League. Sporting Khalsa activities are open to all, irrespective of race or religion.
SK FC: Avi Pawar, Balbir Singh
SK FC: Avi Pawar, Balbir Singh

Up to 50 children regularly attend their football training sessions, with Sporting Khalsa’s FA qualified coaches, on Tuesday evenings at Wolverhampton University’s Walsall Campus.

The club believe that their recent purchase of the lease to Abbey Park, the former Bloxwich Town FC stadium, will allow them to build upon their success on the pitch, and in the community.

Balbir Singh is one of the club’s fundraisers:
SK FC Executive Committee
SK FC Executive Committee

“This is a place where young kids as young as five or six can join, have a sense of belonging, have a team spirit, and that will hopefully bring the kids right through up to the senior team.

“We run five different teams at the moment and that gives an opportunity for the children that do come in to work their way up progressively through the different leagues and at the same time the club is not just about football. There are social events, there’s a club house now as well, there are dinners, tournaments… quite a lot goes on.”

SK FC chairman Raj Gill added: “We would love to see one of our players make the breakthrough to the professional game in either the Championship or the Premiership over the next five years because we feel it would be a great source of inspiration for Asian footballers in the UK”.
SK FC: Jas, Adam and Dharminder
SK FC: Jas, Adam and Dharminder

But can they win? Can Sporting Khalsa beat Walsall FC?

Jaswinder Singh, SK FC goalkeeper: “We’ll give them a good game, I think they’ll be surprised in what we can do. And if they underestimate us – it’s going to be to their peril.”

Avi Pawar is one of Sporting Khalsa’s youth coaches: “I’d hope we could win – but it’s a massive gulf of talent. We’re more than thankful to Walsall FC to have given us this opportunity of opening our stadium to such a big game.

"We’re hoping that lots of people will be supporting - not only us but Walsall, and just come along and enjoy the event, and enjoy a good game of football.”