'Forget the excuses and get on with it'

FACTFILE

Age: 42

Place of Birth: Jhelum, (Pakistan)

Clubs (Football): Great Harwood FC (Lancashire Combination), Clitheroe FC (North West Counties League)

Clubs (Cricket): Enfield CC, Accrington CC (Lancashire League)

Playing your chosen sport is all about dedication and facing challenges on your own. This is an attitude and belief that helped Mashooq play at a higher level than many fellow players of his generation.

Mass, as he is known to most of his friends, began playing football at the age of 11 in 1972 for his school and never looked back. He continued to play in leagues that many of his contemporaries shied away from. Playing in an all-white team it seems was something most players would have been intimidated by but Mass faced the challenges head on.

He was and still is adamant that the one thing that seems to hold back our community in football and cricket in this country is this 'intimidation factor'.

"I am very honest when I say many of us get intimidated playing in leagues where there are not more Asians.

"We have and continue to want to play with our own."

"If you want to play and progress at any reasonable level in this country you have to play in mixed leagues."

"My family was like any other I guess. We were not encouraged but neither were we discouraged."

Mass played for Great Harwood and Clitheroe and was the only Asian to do so. With Clitheroe he was a member of the championship-winning side of 1985, which also went on to win the Lancashire FA Cup in the same year. That's a feat the club had only achieved once before and that was in 1891!

"When I began playing with Great Harwood in 1978 it was an unprecedented move for the club.

"But once you are part of a team you learn to appreciate the fact that colour just doesn't come into it. If you are good enough then you will make the grade.

"I feel there is always a tendency in our community to hide behind our colour."

"There are more opportunities available now but I still see the same excuses being brought forward.

"It is not just our community but I do feel when a player is not good enough he will say it was because of reasons beyond his control."

"It's not the kind of views some people want to hear.

"Okay there is racism in the world but I feel that clubs, even Premiership ones would jump at the chance of fielding a good Asian player because it would be so beneficial to them."

He is also a firm believer that we cannot have Asian only teams. "When there are two sides playing against each other and one is of completely of a different race then it quickly becomes an us and them issue. It shouldn't be like that."

Mass gave up his promising footballing career at the age of 24 because of work and family commitments.

His belief of playing in mixed leagues didn't just stop at football. He joined Enfield Cricket Club and captained the side to victory in the Worsley cup in 1989.

There was a four year stint with Accrington from 1997 before he returned to Enfield where he is still club captain. He featured in games against the likes of Viv Richards, Javed Miandad, Allan Donald, Shane Warne, Nathan Astle - the list is endless.

"I always had the chance to play in local leagues but the allure of playing in regional tournaments was always too much. I was privileged to play against some of my cricketing heroes.

"Again as with football I still feel our youngsters in our community should dedicate themselves to playing at the highest level possible.

"You must do the hard work yourself and help break down the barriers of ignorance. And whilst many would enjoy playing cricket and football amongst their own there are opportunties for you reach the next level."

"I would urge youngsters in our community not to hide behind their colour or beliefs because sport can help break down so many attitudes and we ALL have a responsibility to do that."

"You cannot run away from challenges and you must face your fears and overcome those hurdles."