‘I must play my part in ending stereotypes’
MANISHA TAILOR MAKES HISTORY IN QPR COACHING ROLE
QPR COACH Manisha Tailor has been breaking barriers her entire life, but even she admits it “was extraordinary” to be promoted to assistant head of coaching for the club’s under-9s to under-16s – making her the first person of south Asian heritage to hold such a position.
The 40-year-old will assist head of coaching Chris Ramsey, who has been a mentor and supporter in Tailor’s journey.
“I am looking forward to continuing to learn from senior staff and assist Chris Ramsey in enforcing and disseminating the philosophy at the academy. This is quite an extraordinary position to be in, as a woman and as a south Asian woman. I hope that it inspires change so we see more women from different backgrounds in these types of roles,” she told Eastern Eye.
Her time at Queen’s Park Rangers (QPR) has been life-changing for Tailor and she says she is proud to be associated with a professional football club which is “inclusive and diverse”.
“The club has been instrumental in my development, especially Chris Ramsey, who took me under his wing in 2016 when I first began to volunteer at the club. His mentoring and guidance has helped me develop a greater understanding of the landscape within professional football.
“I was initially encouraged to contact Chris by Andrew Impey (former QPR footballer and current u-23 head coach). I had met Chris in 2014 and we reconnected in 2016 at a Kick It Out event – we were both invited to be mentors by Troy Townsend. The rest, I guess, is history.
“I am in a great place, with senior staff who are incredibly welcoming and open to helping me learn. I am proud to work at an inclusive and diverse football club,” she said.
When Tailor joined QPR in 2016 and started to travel with the team for away games, she would be perceived as a physio by the rival teams, a stereotype she says she was determined to break down.
She said: “There is now a bit more familiarity, but there have been times recently where I would be assumed to be the physio. However, I and others can help to change this by creating greater visibility through the job that I am in. I must play my part in breaking down these stereotypes.”
She reveals it needed “persistence and resilience” to overcome the gender stereotypes in a male-dominated professional sport.
“There were inevitably challenges and it required persistence and resilience to manage my emotions within an incredibly competitive environment, maintain focus on my journey and be adaptable and open to learning. “Chris helped me to better understand the environment, which I believe for me has been key. In addition, developing relationships and trust within an organisation is also important.”
She added: “There are a number of initiatives that are certainly holding clubs to account. Although we are seeing change, I
think this change needs to be a little more radical. I say this because we have people from the south Asian community to do these jobs – they need equality and access to opportunities and to be treated on a level-playing field. We are beginning to see change which is great and I hope it inspires others in the community to pursue their dreams in football.”
Talking about changes to make football more inclusive and diverse, Tailor, who was awarded an MBE in 2017, says: “Greater accountability will help to ensure that clubs are adhering to ethical and equitable processes when they recruit. We need to challenge and question why are there a few black and Asian coaches in senior positions? They are qualified, but not being provided with the same or similar access to jobs, than others. Here, we must see change.”
Tailor is currently doing her A licence coaching course and is also working on her second book, which profiles south Asian trailblazers in football.
Much of Tailor’s resilience and grit comes from her twin brother, Mayur, who was diagnosed with a mental health illness at the age of 18, which she says was “a result of trauma and extreme bullying at school”.
In 2011, she left her role as a deputy school teacher and embarked on a journey in football, with her brother being a driving force.
“I was inspired by not only my brother, but also influenced by my passion for the game and working with young people. Through my experience of becoming a young carer, I saw the importance of using sport to engage with those who have mental health issues.”
The coronavirus pandemic has put mental health in focus like never before, she says.
“We need to create greater conversations around mental health to assist in breaking down any associated stigma and taboo. Mental health affects us all and in my opinion, it’s about recognising our emotions and learning how we manage our feelings in different situations.
“Open and honest dialogue can prevent isolation, fear of failure, stress and anxiety, simply because individuals would be more willing to share
their thoughts.”