Full name Amanprit Kaur Dosanj 2000–2002 Arsenal Ladies 1994–2000 Southampton Saints Height 1.57 m | Years Team Role Footballer Name Aman Dosanj | |
Place of birth Southampton, England | ||
Amanprit "Aman" Kaur Dosanj is an English former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. In playing for England U-16s, she became the first British Asian footballer, of either gender, to represent England at any level.
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Dosanj was later employed by the Football Association as an ambassador for the 'Football For All' and 'Kick It Out' campaigns.
Club career
At the age of six, Dosanj was the only female player in her school football team. She joined Red Star Southampton (later Southampton Saints) aged ten and was coached by former England goalkeeper Sue Buckett. At 16 Dosanj signed for Arsenal Ladies, the team she supported as a child. She juggled training and playing with studying for her A-levels.
In 2002, 18-year-old Dosanj won a scholarship to Lee University in Cleveland. Dosanj's goalkeeping career was later hampered by a lack of height and a serious knee injury.
International career
In April 1999, while playing for Southampton Saints' reserve team, Dosanj represented England U-16s in a five-nations tournament in Dublin. In doing so she notably became the first British Asian to play football for England at any level. Dosanj described her international debut as "the proudest and most memorable day of my life."
Dosanj later indicated a willingness to play international football for India.
Personal life
Dosanj's Indian parentage made her a role model for aspiring British Asian footballers, and in 2004 she was employed by the Football Association (FA) as an ambassador. She was presented with a certificate by FA chief executive Mark Palios. Although Dosanj herself never suffered racism while playing in England or the United States, she became a prominent anti-racism campaigner, speaking out against racism in football while working for the Kick It Out initiative.
The football career of Dosanj - a Sikh - was likened to that of Parminder Nagra's character in the 2002 film Bend It Like Beckham. Nagra said of Dosanj: "I think it is brilliant that there is someone out there who is so close to the story, who is going out to the States and pursuing her dream. Good for Aman, I hope she does really well."