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Rising Stars FC '74

As South Asian Heritage Month continues, the founder of Unreflected Reflections introduces Rising Stars FC, a football team made of members from this community who, back in the 70s, dreamed of joining a Sunday league side - eventually forming their own that is now over half a century old.

28th July 2025

by Ismail Kholwadia
Founder, Unreflected Reflections

My roots are Gloucestershire through and through.

As a grandchild of the early Muslim elders who established a home here and growing up as a rural Muslim, the vast environment surrounding me profoundly shaped my identity and experiences.

For more than 10 years, I've had the privilege of working within social change, funding and the charity sector.

Four photographs of Rising Starts FC'74 teams through the years are placed on a table.

Thanks to incredible leaders, elders and changemakers around me, my education and life have been enriched, fuelling the intersectional work I now do as an Imam, strategist and learning and development facilitator.

Observing our family, who migrated in the early 1950s, and seeing the need to create a space in welcoming others from the sub-continent for better futures, influenced what we now call home.

For some I may seem like a leader but, for me, leadership is not something you choose to do but something you must do – a responsibility that’s entrusted upon you.

This very story shows exactly that it’s creating spaces and the selfless pursuit in opening hearts and homes for communities that will outlive our own.

Unreflected Reflections (UR) emerged during the Covid-19 pandemic as a creative platform dedicated to fostering reflection on history, stories and identities, particularly of those often overlooked or unaddressed.

Its core intention is to provide a voice for 'unheard and non-institutional voices', that is the voices of everyday individuals who may feel their stories lack value or contribution to society.

Origin and philosophy

UR was born out of a period of global pause and reflection during the pandemic, prompting a re-evaluation of identity and narrative.
 

Unreflected Reflections emerged during the Covid-19 pandemic as a creative platform dedicated to fostering reflection on history, stories and identities, particularly of those often overlooked or unaddressed.

It intentionally seeks to explore internal universes and personal faith identities, especially for those with South Asian heritage, encouraging collective exploration.

UR operates on the principle that heritage and history are discussed differently in rural settings, where opportunities and exposure might be harder to achieve and silence can become the norm.

Key achievements and impact

Since 2022, the initiative has achieved significant milestones by producing three documentaries (Gloucester Glory, Pioneering Glimpses and Rising Stars FC ’74) and two photography exhibitions.

In total, we’ve engaged with over 3,500 individuals from schools, film festivals, institutions and communities by providing an in-person experience through storytelling, identity exploration and food.

Rising Stars FC '74

UR's latest documentary, Rising Stars FC '74, exemplifies its work.

This film chronicles the journey of a few teenage Muslims in the 1970s who dreamt of playing football and joining the Sunday league set-up.

There are some key aspects of this piece:

  • Whilst football was central, the initiative was a movement for young people to drive change, build bridges between communities and root their efforts in faith identity and South Asian heritage.
  • What began as a moment, evolved into a significant movement for growth, opportunity and institution-building, focusing on placemaking and integrating health and wellbeing. The club has now celebrated half a century of existence.
  • The club has expanded to include multiple adult and youth teams and boasts an ascending coaching developmental programme.
  • The journey was fraught with challenges, including a lack of role models, an absence of funding and the persistent ‘dark hostility of racism’, but the resilience and determination of its founders became a testament to enduring change.

Approach to engagement and partnerships

This documentary emphasises creating spaces where faith, community and stories are intentionally woven together, leading to authentic, undiluted engagement rooted in personal identity rather than just project-focused interactions.

The platform actively questions whether partnerships are open to diverse engagement styles, culturally informed in relationship-building and equitable in allowing communities to contribute their say, reflecting faith and culture.

What are we up to now?

We have now partnered with Hartpury University to provide a fully funded studentship to undertake a Masters by Research (MRes) and we’re also working with the Gloucester Muslim community to generate data on current experiences around health and wellbeing.

This will be a research collaboration designed by the student and the community in facilitating insights for rural needs where faith, culture and identity are intentional.

On a concluding note, I leave you with a quote from a participant that has really stayed with me: “You must know your history to know your future.” 

If you are interested in our work in exploring faith, culture and identity within your workspace or want to screen any of the films as a learning experience, then connect with us through our website, or on LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook, where we share updates and events.
 

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