South Asian Heritage Month: Inderjeet 'Indy' Aujla
To celebrate South Asian Heritage Month 2024, we are interviewing several referees, coaches and players from South Asian backgrounds across the grassroots game in West Riding.
Up next is Inderjeet 'Indy' Aujla, 36, from Bradford - currently Silsden 1st Team Coach and Head Coach of Bradford Disability.
Former clubs
Playing: YTS Bradford City, Boston United, Whitehawk, AFC Marine, Garforth Town, Frickley Athletic, RRFC Montgnee (Belgium) Bacup Borough, Longford Town.
Coaching/Managerial: RRFC Montegnee-Player/Manager, Albion Sports U15's, Athletico-Manager, Thackley AFC 1st team coach, Maldon+Tiptree 1st team coach.
Tell us about how and why you got involved in coaching football?
I played at a decent level and learnt a lot from very experienced coaches at professional clubs and on my YTS at Bradford City, the PFA Coach educator saw me doing my Level 2 and said if playing doesn't work out, I've got a future in this. The rest is history - I got my first managerial job aged 24 in Belgium as player-manager of a semi-pro club that had a mix of French speakers and English players, so I was learning French at the time and doing my team talks in both languages (story featured in Telegraph & Argus here)
What do you enjoy about coaching football?
I love seeing people learn, it's a great feeling being able to teach.
What is your best memory of coaching?
Orchestrating a 1-3 win against Tilleur for Montegnee, our local derby match, bringing myself off the bench to assist the 3rd goal, killing the game away from home using the 4-3-3 formation to full effect.
What do you want to achieve in coaching football?
This season I passed my UEFA A License. Currently I'm enjoying the level I'm at but who knows what the future holds. I want to do my AYA next.
What are the biggest obstacles you have faced in coaching football?
Coaching is easier for me than playing at getting opportunities, it's still not easy as there's limited spaces but not as difficult as playing.
Who’s had the biggest influence in your coaching career and why?
Andy Barlow from the PFA, he's been a mentor for 20 years and still offers advice to this day
What advice would you give to people wishing to get involved in coaching football?
Learning is ongoing, don't think you know it all just because you've got a qualification. Nothing beats time on the grass - the manual is just the manual, if you can put your mark on to it through your journey, even better.