Birmingham City’s Layla Banaras, 16, becomes first South Asian heritage woman to represent Blues in professional era | Football News

Birmingham City’s Layla Banaras, 16, has become the first woman of South Asian heritage to represent the Blues in the professional era after featuring in Sunday’s Women’s FA Cup tie against Huddersfield.

The 16-year-old was named on the Birmingham bench for the first time in her career in November’s impressive Barclays Women’s Championship win against Bristol City at Ashton Gate.

Banaras, who has been with Birmingham since the age of eight, came on as a substitute in the 4-0 win at St Andrew’s as the Blues progressed to the fourth round of the Women’s FA Cup.

Birmingham manager Darren Carter is keen to give youngsters a chance and says Banaras are well-deserved first-team opportunities.

“I said before he’s got his chance,” Carter said.

“Since he came up and trained with us every day, you’ve seen that he’s gotten stronger and more confident, and he deserved it today.

“To see the academy develop into the first team again [is great]. With myself, Delphi (Cole) came, and Abbie Cowie, and obviously, Gemma (Lawley) and Lily (Simkin) came, and AJ (Abbie Jenner) is waiting in the wings – it’s good that we can present the youth and talent that we have can.

“But in Layla’s case, she was really good. Her attitude was really good and she really deserved to be on the field today.”

The Banaras tough, who has an English mother and a Pakistani father, is a former pupil of Hobmoor’s Oasis Academy – and started playing football at Solihull Moors FC.

Banaras, who can play in defense and midfield, captained the Birmingham U16 academy team last season before progressing to represent the club’s development team on a number of occasions.

The versatile wing-back played 90 minutes as the youngest player on the pitch – aged just 16 years and 25 days – in last season’s FA WSL U21 Academy Cup final against Manchester United at St George’s Park, adding to the demands for his money. British youth phone.

Banaras was described as an outstanding young man by former Blues manager Carla Ward, and won praise last year after producing a nutrition guide and meal planner to better prepare Muslim athletes for fasting during Ramadan.

The teenager, who previously said she hoped to inspire other Muslim girls to take up football, began developing a healthy eating program for the players while fasting after finding little guidance for training players through the Holy Month Ramadan.

Banaras was cheered on by friends and family and friends past and present as she took part in the Queen’s Baton Relay earlier this year ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

The 16-year-old also featured at Birmingham City’s kit launch earlier this season, appearing alongside men’s first-team academy graduate Brandon Khela as the Blues embraced a rich cultural diversity to promote their new lane.

Sikh-Punjabi midfielder Khela penned a senior term at St Andrew’s earlier this summer, becoming the first British South Asian to sign a professional deal with Birmingham City.

Birmingham City Blues’ official supporters group 4 All have since taken the rare step of sponsoring Khela after being inspired by another supporters’ club, the Punjabi Rams – who Sky Sports News It has been revealed that it has extended its sponsorship of Derby County Women’s winger Kira Rai for a fifth season.

Speaking specially for Sky Sports News in October, Blues 4 All seats Micky Singh said: “I have supported the Blues for over 60 years and have waited a very long time to see a Punjabi boy come up through the ranks here at Birmingham City Football Club.

“Brandon is a player with a lot of potential and is just one of a handful of youngsters from a South Asian background trying to break through.

“It’s a huge credit to the Blues, who are supporting talent despite football’s slow response to tackling South Asian representation in the men’s and women’s professional game.”

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