West Ham United, in collaboration with Inclusive Irons and DesiBallers, proudly welcomed fans to a special evening of community, culture and connection on Wednesday 16 July, kicking off South Asian Heritage Month, which starts today, Friday 18 July.
Held at Riverside East in the heart of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the Inclusive Irons Summer Social brought together over 150 supporters to honour the contribution of South Asian communities to the game and our surrounding east London community.
As well as celebrating South Asian Heritage Month, the event marked 15 years of DesiBallers, a platform championing South Asians in football led by founder Zohaib Rashid.
Zohaib welcomed guests to the stage, including Dev Trehan, Sky Sports News journalist and tireless advocate for inclusion in football; Aaron Paul, host of BBC London’s breakfast show and ‘the voice of the EFL’ on BBC Radio 5 Live; Kira Rai, 2024 Asian Football Awards Women’s Player of the Year; Easah Suliman, Pakistan international and ex-England youth captain; and Mariam Mahmood, who recently scored a brace on her international debut for Pakistan.
Rashid Abba, the Club’s Academy Link Mentor and recipient of the 2024 Asian Football Awards Inspiration Award, spoke about his vital work implementing the Club’s strategy for identifying and nurturing homegrown local talent.
This strategy involves investing time and resources in addressing underrepresentation by widening the net of opportunities within the South Asian community in east London and Essex - an initiative which is already making strides in creating sustainable pathways for recruiting the most talented players and coaches. It is also enhancing the Club’s networks for talent identification in supporting local South Asian talent and creating sustainable pathways into football - both on and off the pitch.
Apu Vyas, Chair of Inclusive Irons, praised the event, saying: “I was proud to open the evening (as the South Asian Heritage Month sports lead) and welcome everyone to my ‘home’, West Ham United. The Club has been a huge part of my identity for years, and it meant a lot to bring this event to a place so personal to me.
“As a natural networker and collaborator, I loved seeing the energy in the room, the conversations, the connections, and the way everyone amplified each other’s work. That’s what nights like this are all about.
“Our key aims at Inclusive Irons include encouraging the local community to engage with and support West Ham, the Premier League Club on their doorstep, and also to help bridge the gap between British Asians' love of football and lack of participation and representation in the professional game, and I think we have taken huge strides."
As part of the evening, former player and Club Ambassador, Rufus Brevett, also joined the panel for a Q&A session, giving supporters the chance to engage directly with the Club and share their experiences.
“We were proud to support Inclusive Irons with a special event dedicated to celebrating the rich cultures, histories and contributions of players, football influencers, advocates and changemakers of South Asian heritage,” said Jackie Ferdinand, Director of Safeguarding and Inclusion.
“The event showcased the hard work of individuals striving to create additional and sustainable pathways in elite football, ensuring that the wealth of top talent within South Asian communities is recognised, from grassroots initiatives to the professional game.
“It was also a meaningful opportunity for us as a Club to share how we are implementing our 'Widening the Net' and 'Emerging Hammers' strategies. These are not just initiatives; they are intentional commitments to identifying and recruiting local talent deeply connected to the East End. We aim to grow our Academy's network of players, coaches and talent scouts to ensure that no one with potential goes unnoticed, actively engaging with our fan base in east London and Essex.
“We also had the heartwarming opportunity to celebrate women in football by featuring international players of South Asian heritage. This standout moment inspired everyone present and underscored the importance of visibility and opportunity at every level of the game.
“Finally, hearing the crowd sing 'I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles' while making the Hammers sign and taking photos with our trophy rekindled the spirit of our cup parade. It was a symbol of the deep pride and passion that our Claret and Blue supporters have for this Club.”
This event formed part of West Ham United’s ongoing commitment to equality, equity, diversity and inclusion, and our wider work to ensure every supporter feels at home in Claret and Blue. By working closely with groups like Inclusive Irons, the Club is proud to continue championing the voices, stories and impact of our diverse supporter base.