What's the story?

Throughout the next 18 months, I spent time trying to learn as much as I could about Indian football. Reading stories of its past, reports of its present and predictions for its future, I couldn’t help but find myself fascinated.

As a fan of global football, but with zero awareness of the game in India until my first trip, I was conscious that the majority of my fellow world football fans would be similarly naive. Why is it that a nation of over 1.3 billion people (around one sixth of our planet’s population) doesn’t have a prominent stake in the world’s most popular sport?

Despite a huge football fan base, and a visible passion and interest in the European and International game, I was intrigued by the lack of a visible popular culture for local and national football in India, at least from first glance.

Growing up in England, it was impossible to ignore the impact that football has across so many layers of culture and society. I was always intrigued not only by the stars, goals and league tables of the Premier League, but also by the stories and experiences of lower league and grassroots football, and their eccentric and ritualistic nature.

From rags to riches… Jamie Vardy playing for Stocksbridge Park Steels in his early days.

Football means so much to so many people across the nation, creating moments of inspiration and magic far beyond what we experience in our daily routines. These are all part of the story of English football, a narrative that has involved and inspired so many, and continues to do so.

As in sport but also in life, it is a good story that so often grips and inspires us. I was curious to discover the story of Indian football, and to learn more about what it means to the people and their communities. Because when football means something to people, as it so often infectiously does, it is their passion that creates these inspiring and eccentric stories.

Goa is one of India’s premier footballing states, the team’s colours visible on every street