A Journey Of Rediscovery

Zahra Khan, Leicester, England

Goal Click have teamed up with EE to tell the stories of UK grassroots teams born out of adversity - that have overcome hate with hope, with the aim of making the beautiful game more inclusive for all. Because there is a place in football for everyone. 

Zahra Khan is a coach for Vicky Park Queens (VPQ), a team founded in 2021 by This Fan Girl Founder Amy Drucquer in her home city of Leicester. In true grassroots spirit, the team train on the grass at Victoria Park and the club is driven by an ethos to create a space for all women and non-binary people. Beginners, mothers, women wearing hijab, everyone is welcome. Despite there being no league in Leicester, since its creation the club has brought together 55 women and promotes the need for greater activity in Leicester. 

Inspired? To find your place in football, in England, head here. 

Can you introduce yourself and tell us how your football life began?

My name is Zahra Khan, I am 26 years old. I am from Leicester, and I work in a nursery as a senior nursery practitioner. I have worked in childcare for almost 10 years now.  

As a part time role on some weekday evenings and weekends I work as a football coach. I only recently began this journey as a coach and it was all thanks to VPQ. As well as coaching women and children in football, I also play myself - usually with my cousins and uncles on a weekly basis.

How and when did you get involved in football?

I grew up watching and playing football. It all started with my older sister, dad and younger brother. They all would watch Premier League matches every Saturday and they all supported their own teams. I remember them showing so much excitement and energy when watching the games. They would discuss stats and players and have so many discussions about the game that it naturally made me fall in love with it. I was also a tomboy, so it was bound to happen I guess. 

So along with watching the games with my family, I would also play outside as a kid with my younger brother and our neighbours. I remember very significantly being the only girl playing football. But it never bothered me because all I wanted to do was play footy and show off my skills. When entering my adult life, I had stopped playing due to lack of opportunities for women to play. But I continued watching it with my husband who supports a different team to me, which always keeps things interesting when the season starts. 

I joined VPQ in April 2021. It all started when Amy, the founder of VPQ, messaged in a football group chat asking if anyone wanted to join her in playing football at Victoria Park with her team. I messaged her straight away and asked if I could come along. I felt so welcomed when I played with them. It was just the best feeling ever.  After finding VPQ I remember feeling like I had found a big part of myself again. I guess I did not realise just how much of me was in football. 

What did you try to capture with your photos? Was there a wider meaning with the photos? 

Some of the photos were taken during our Vicky Park training sessions. I also train on my own and practice my own skills and techniques. I wanted to capture photos of my equipment and just the goal on its own to show one of the ways I like to spend my time. I’m not too shy to play football on my own in a park.

I wanted to show the beauty of women who have just enjoyed playing a good footy match with an amazing group of people. I tried to capture moments which happen so often in our group - us girls having a laugh and enjoying the fact that we get to play this game together.

What are the opportunities for women's and non-binary players to participate in your community?

I hear about Leicester City trying to create opportunities for young girls to play and train. And I know of local charity organisations who hold free girls football classes. But I still feel like the middle aged, older women like us in VPQ still do not have access to enough opportunities to play. There are not really local tournaments in Leicester or opportunities to play against other local teams.

What impact has VPQ had on you? What are your hopes for the future?

I got into coaching all thanks to Amy, founder of Vicky Park Queens. After joining VPQ, our coach had to leave to pursue further education. I had some ideas for what we could practise in training, Amy told me to go for it, so I did and everyone again made me feel so comfortable with leading the session. 

Amy pushed me and gave me the confidence to pursue coaching further and get my Level 1 FA Coaching badge. Since then, it has been amazing. I have taken opportunities to coach children in so many companies. The level of confidence it has given me is unreal and that is all because of the opportunity Amy made by creating a women’s grassroots team. I have developed so much as a person because it is a massive part of me.

I aim to coach for as long as I can, and would love the opportunity to coach with Leicester City if I am able to.  I hope to continue to provide a space for young girls, teens and women to play football and show off their skills.

How important is it for male allies to fight sexist abuse?

The role of male allies is very important. It will help other men understand where they have gone wrong and hopefully now be a part of making it right for girls and women who are important to them.

Series edited by Emma Walley.