Adnan Ahmed in action
Huddersfield Town's Adnan Ahmed has spoken about his family's support in helping him to get where he is.
Ahmed, who went to Moorland High School in Clitheroe, is among only a handful of Asian footballers who have broken onto the professional circuit, along with Michael Chopra, Harpal Singh and Zesh Rehman.
And he admits he is surprised by the slow rate at which his peers are emerging in the game.
Change
However, he is beginning to see a gradual change.
"I don't think about the fact that I'm Asian. Some people would. I just think about playing football, and if I do become a role model, that's fine," he said.
"For me, I just try to do things as well as I can.
"Any Asian kids that want to get into football need to start playing in Sunday League teams instead of just playing with their mates because that's where they'll get seen. Otherwise they're not giving themselves a chance. They are just playing within themselves."
Route into the game
Ahmed is preaching what he practised. Encouraged by brother Majid, he joined Salterforth when he was 11, moved to Barrowford shortly afterwards before signing for Bury schoolboys then quickly progressing to Manchester United.
One of his team-mates there was Alex Bruce, son of United legend Steve, who was manager of Huddersfield when Ahmed joined their Academy aged 16.
A succession of injuries hampered his progress through the ranks. First a stress fracture of his back, then a similar problem with his shin. And after breaking into the first team under current boss Peter Jackson last season, this term got off to a late start for Ahmed as he needed three months to recover from tendonitis after putting his body through too much in the summer.
"In pre-season I was doing a lot of work by myself because I wanted to get stronger," said the midfielder, who made his Huddersfield debut in a 1-1 draw at Rochdale in 2003.
"But I came back last month and have played a few games.
"When you're injured, it's the worst thing. And the ones I had when I was an apprentice hampered my career a bit in a sense. But sometimes these things are a blessing in disguise because it makes you take a step back and re-think things.
"It worked in my favour because it made me a stronger person. It made me grateful for what I do and to appreciate things more."
Family
His family ethics clearly have a positive effect on such a philosophical outlook.
"I'm really blessed by the support of my family," said Ahmed, who also has a sister Ghazala and other brother, Imran.
"We are a close-knit family and they will all be there today. They come to nearly every game.
"But I'm quite religious too, which helps me to keep my ego down and take each day at a time."
By Suzanne Geldard, Asian Image
