Kashif Mumtaz Siddiqi (born 25 January 1986) is a former professional

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby lea ...

who played as a defender. Born in England, Siddiqi represented

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

at senior international level. After playing youth football with various teams in England, Siddiqi moved to the United States on a scholarship to play college soccer, before spending two seasons in the

USL PDL USL League Two (USL2), formerly the Premier Development League (PDL), is a semi-professional soccer league sponsored by United Soccer Leagues in the United States, forming part of the United States soccer league system. The league will feature ...

, later moving to the Middle East to play. In 2011, Siddiqi founded the Kashif Siddiqi Foundation, which aims to encourage young British Asians into the game. He is also an ambassador for Kick It Out, an anti-racism organisation.

Early and personal life

Kashif Mumtaz Siddiqi was born in

Hammersmith Hammersmith is a district of West London, England, southwest of Charing Cross. It is the administrative centre of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, and identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. It ...

to an Indian father and a Ugandan mother. He is Muslim. In January 2012, Siddiqi was invited to the inaugural Asian Football Awards at Wembley Stadium, where he handed out the award for Young Asian Player of the Year to

Danny Batth Daniel Tanveer Batth (born 21 September 1990) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for club Blackburn Rovers. Batth began his career with his local side Wolverhampton Wanderers, joining their youth academy as a teen ...

. In April 2012, Siddiqi was made an official ambassador for Chelsea's "Search for an Asian Star" campaign 2012, along with player

Florent Malouda Florent Johan Malouda (born 13 June 1980) is a French football coach and former professional player who played as a left winger. Born in French Guiana, he represented both France and French Guiana at the international level. Malouda spent most ...

and Bhangra musicians Jaz Dhami and H Dhami. The 2012 edition of the tournament attracted 400 children.

Club career

Early career in England

Siddiqi played youth football for

Arsenal An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, or issued, in any combination, whether privately or publicly owned. Arsenal and armoury (British English) or armory (American English) are mostly ...

Wycombe Wanderers Wycombe Wanderers Football Club () is a professional association football club based in the town of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England. The team competes in League One, the third level of the English football league system. Founded in 188 ...

, Hayes,

Yeading Yeading ( ) is a settlement in west London, forming part of the London Borough of Hillingdon, having been developed after the Second World War. Etymology Yeading is very early Saxon and was originally ''Geddingas'' or ''Geddinges'', meaning " ...

and

Boston United Boston United Football Club is a semi-professional association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. The club participates in the National League, the fifth level of the English football league system. The club is known as 'the ...

College career

In 2005 Siddiqi played college soccer in the United States on a scholarship, while studying for a degree in Business Administration, attending

Eckerd College Eckerd College is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States. Founded in 1958, part of the campus is waterfront (area), waterfront and beach on Boca Ciega ...

St. Petersburg, Florida St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 258,308, making it the List of municipalities in Florida, fifth-most populous city in Florida and the most populous city in the sta ...

for two years and

Presbyterian College Presbyterian College (PC) is a private liberal arts college in Clinton, South Carolina, United States. It was founded in 1880 and is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). History Presbyterian College was founded in 1880 by Willia ...

for one year. He then transferred to Fresno Pacific University for his last year to finish off his degree and play club football.

USL PDL career

In 2009 the

USL Premier Development League USL League Two (USL2), formerly the Premier Development League (PDL), is a semi-professional soccer league sponsored by United Soccer Leagues in the United States, forming part of the United States soccer league system. The league will featu ...

began paying some players, and that same season Siddiqi signed to play with the Springfield Demize. He made his debut for the team in their 2009 season opener against

Des Moines Menace Des Moines Menace is an American soccer team based in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1994, the team plays in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the United States soccer league system. The Menace have had sustained success in USL Lea ...

, and spent the season as club captain. He spent the 2010 season with the

Fresno Fuego Fresno Football Club U-23, formerly Fresno Fuego FC, was an American association football, soccer team based in Fresno, California, United States. Founded in 2003, the team played in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid ...

, also in the USL PDL.

Later career and injuries

Siddiqi later played in the Middle East, for

Al-Wasl Al Wasl Sports Club () is a multi-sports club in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. It is best known for its football team. Current Board of Directors See also * Al Wasl FC Al Wasl Football Club () is an Emirati professional football ...

of Dubai, before his career was interrupted by a number of serious injuries.

Return to the USL PDL

Siddiqi signed for the

Ventura County Fusion Ventura County Fusion is an American soccer team based in Ventura, California, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American soccer pyramid. The team plays its home games in the stadium on th ...

for the 2012 season.

Return to England

Siddiqi signed for Football League club

Northampton Town Northampton Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in the town of Northampton, England. The team competes in EFL League One, League One, the third level of the English football league system. Founded in 1897, the c ...

in September 2013, having trained with the club during the previous season, following his recovery from a hip injury. In August 2019, he signed for

Oxford United Oxford United Football Club () is a professional association football, football club based in Oxford, England. The club compete in the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football league system, English football. Founded as Headingto ...

in a player/ambassadorial role, with the intention that he would join an Indian club on loan. In September 2019, he moved to Indian club Real Kashmir on loan. He missed the first two I-League games due to injury. He was released at the end of the 2019–20 season.

International career

Siddiqi received his first national team call-up to the Pakistan under-23 team in May 2007 for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Qualifiers, making his debut against

Bahrain Bahrain, officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, is an island country in West Asia. Situated on the Persian Gulf, it comprises a small archipelago of 50 natural islands and an additional 33 artificial islands, centered on Bahrain Island, which mak ...

, and playing in two further matches against Kuwait and Qatar. He was called back up to the under-23 team in 2010. In 2008, he was called up by the senior team to take part in the

SAFF Championship The SAFF Championship (erstwhile SAARC Gold Cup and SAFF Gold Cup), is the primary association football competition contested by the senior List of men's national association football teams, men's national teams of the South Asian Football Fede ...

, and later that year he earned one full international cap. Siddiqi has also played for the 'Pakistan XI', a team composed of Europe-based players of Pakistani origin which competes in friendly games.

Charity work

Siddiqi has also attended meetings with the

English Football Association The Football Association (the FA) is the governing body of association football in England and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Formed in 1863, it is the oldest football association in the world and is responsibl ...

on the matter of

British Asians in association football British Asians in association football include British citizens with heritage or joint nationality of any Asian country; there is a long history of British Asian football players in England particularly, dating back to the Victorian era, albeit i ...

. In April 2011, Siddiqi and the foundation played in a charity match to raise money for the Sodje Sports Foundation, Bury Hospice and The Bury Fusilier. He is also an ambassador for Kick It Out. He is also the co-founder of the '' Football For Peace'' organization. In November 2013, Siddiqi was honoured by

Prince Albert II of Monaco Albert II (Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi; born 14 March 1958) is Prince of Monaco, reigning since 2005. Born at the Prince's Palace of Monaco, Albert is the second child and only son of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace. He attend ...

for his charity work.

References

;Cited sources ;Further reading * * *

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Siddiqi, Kashif 1986 births Living people English people of Indian descent Sportspeople of Indian descent British Asian footballers English people of Ugandan descent Sportspeople of Ugandan descent English Muslims English men's footballers Arsenal F.C. players Wycombe Wanderers F.C. players Hayes F.C. players Yeading F.C. players Boston United F.C. players Springfield Demize players Fresno FC U-23 players USL League Two players Eckerd College alumni Northampton Town F.C. players Men's association football defenders Footballers from the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham People from Hammersmith British people of Indo-Ugandan descent English expatriate sportspeople in the United States Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States English expatriate men's footballers Oxford United F.C. players Oxford United F.C. non-playing staff Naturalised citizens of Pakistan Pakistani men's footballers Pakistan men's international footballers 21st-century English sportsmen 21st-century Pakistani sportsmen