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| Vimal aims to motivate more British Asians to follow their dreams in football. |
When Vimal Yoganathan first took the field for Barnsley, the club quickly recognized his exceptional talent.
Being a role model is a big part of being a footballer," he says. I hope I can inspire young players coming up, especially those from the Tamil community.
Vimal’s family is originally from Sri Lanka, and he grew up in Trelawnyd, a small village in North Wales. He recalls that as a child, it was sometimes "a bit difficult not having many friends from a similar background.
Speaking to BBC Asian Network, Vimal shared that while his family felt welcomed by the local community, there weren’t people you could fully relate to in a predominantly white area.
Soon, his talent caught the attention of Liverpool, his boyhood club, and he joined their academy at just eight years old. Later, he progressed to Barnsley’s under-16s team and continued to move up the ranks.
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| Vimal Yoganathan has already faced Manchester United in the Carabao Cup. |
Standing at 6ft 3in (191cm), Vimal's height certainly caught attention at Barnsley, but it was his determination that truly made him stand out, says academy director Bobby Hassell.
He came in at 15, this tall, gangly, skinny kid who didn’t exactly look like a footballer, Hassell recalls. But his aggression was what impressed all the coaches. You don’t often see 15-year-olds tackling the way he did.
In 2023, only 22 professional players with South Asian heritage, aged 17 or older, were in England’s top four leagues—about 1% of the 5,000 professional footballers in the UK.
Every time I stepped onto an academy pitch, I’d be the only brown player—and certainly the only Tamil player, says Vimal. It almost became normal for me, but that needs to change.
Since 2021, the PFA’s Asian Inclusion Mentoring Scheme (AIMS) has been supporting Vimal in his career.
It’s shown me just how many brown players are out there in the game, he says. And it’s been growing too, which is great to see.
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| Club officials are impressed by Vimal's athleticism and envision a promising future for him. |
Bobby acknowledges the additional pressure Vimal faces in representing the British Asian community. I understand the challenges, especially when it comes to families supporting young players in pursuing football, he says.
Vimal points out a common stereotype that British Asian parents often encourage their children to prioritize academics. I think the risk is what worries a lot of parents, he explains. You invest so much time and dedication into becoming a footballer, but there's no guarantee.
He feels fortunate that his parents have been supportive. Being a footballer wasn’t just my dream, he shares. It was theirs too.
Bobby believes Vimal is definitely setting an example for families, showing them the opportunities available in football. I think now they can see that kids don’t just need an education, he says. There is a pathway in football.
A New Generation of Icons.
Vimal modestly resists the title of trailblazer when people praise his achievements and potential. For him, football remains the main focus, and he believes that being a role model should just come naturally.
Barnsley’s sporting director, Mladen Sormaz, describes Vimal in one word: humble.There aren’t many role models, Sormaz notes, but I think this generation is where we’ll start seeing icons.
He’s optimistic about Vimal’s future, saying he has all the tools to become a top-level professional. Now, all Vimal needs is the right pathway and a bit of luck.
Reflecting on his own childhood, Sormaz recalls how fewer British Asian kids stuck with football as they got older. He believes players like Vimal could change that by inspiring others to stay in the game. It’s about having role models out there, seeing people succeed, he says. Hopefully, Vimal will be one of them. He’s shown he’s ready to take on that role for the community.
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