Dagenham & Redbridge captain Anwar Uddin
Anwar Uddin is the captain of Dagenham and Redbridge, and in 2006/07, he captained the side that won promotion to League Two, the first time the club had ever reached the Football League.
You're now in your third season as club captain for Dagenham and Redbridge. Give us an idea of your roles and responsibilities...
The role of club captain is perhaps more significant today than ever before. Its a 24 hour job as opposed to just a 90 minute one. I'm involved in the day today running of the club.
I'm a sounding board for players for any issues they may have, particularly ones they feel they cant speak directly to the manager about. And, in a squad of 30 or so players, this can be difficult. A good club captain should have the ability to earn the respect of his team mates which is what i try to do.
The team did exceptionally well to avoid relegation last season. What are your aims, both personally and from a club perspective this season?
On a personal level, I hope to be able to play in every game. It takes a high degree of fitness and dedication to do this, not withstanding any dips in form which all players go through at some point.
From a club perspective, we're hungry team with a big heart. We want to well but we're also realistic about what we can achieve. You look at a team like Bradford City, who were in the Premier League a few years back. Just to be competing against the likes of them demonstrates how far we've come in recent seasons.
How regularly did you encounter discrimination growing up? Do you think things have improved for young Asian youngsters who might want to follow in your footsteps?
You get name calling and the odd unsavory comment but luckily nothing too bad. When i began to play at a decent level, i could detect that even my own team mates found having an Asian in the dressing room a 'new' experience.
I've been lucky to have been one of the first British Asian players to make it through to professional level and I'm happy that my career will be seen in this context. It'll hopefully further help the acceptance of Asian culture in modern day British life. We're already seeing this happening with the entertainments industry.
Asian footballers are still clearly in the minority, whilst there are no openly gay footballers in the English game. What do you think needs to be done to overcome these issues once and for all?
In my opinion, there needs to be a bit of compromise from both sides. For one, clubs have a duty to let young players know that they don't discriminate against those who are homosexual. I can safely say that Dagenham, any player from a minority group, whether it be Asian, gay, whatever, would be welcomed because of the good people employed there.
On the other hand, football is male dominated sport and the terraces can be an unforgiving place. Players who are gay might need to accept there probably will be a degree of abuse directed at them. But if the club and team mates are willing to offer their support then it will make things so much easier.
Football needs to change, in the same way society at large has, if we're to see gay players being accepted. It often takes an individual to start a trend and I hope its something we see sooner rather than later.
As an east London boy, do you get an extra sense of pride playing for a club based just a few miles from where you grew up?
Definitely. The backroom staff and many of the supporters are people I've known all my life. I could be playing up north on a wet and windy and Tuesday night, yet Id still know many of the people in the away section. It not only makes the playing experience more intimate but it makes me want to go the extra mile for them.
What are your thoughts on the work we do at Kick It Out?Kick It Out has helped football become more accessible British Asian males like me. During my teens the game's image wasn't like it is today. It was seen as a very white, 'English' game where other cultures and backgrounds such as mine, were largely left out. Kick It Out has helped break down this stereotype and now we see football being embraced by many more sections of society.
