The Team With A Big Heart

Ghazala Jabeen, Llandudno, Wales

Goal Click have teamed up with EE to tell the stories of UK grassroots teams born out of adversity - that have overcome hate with hope, with the aim of making the beautiful game more inclusive for all. Because there is a place in football for everyone. 

Ghazala Jabeen plays for North Wales Dragons, a Llandudno-based grassroots club prioritising a playing environment that is based on inclusivity rather than ability. The women’s team was founded in 2019 and now numbers 24 players aged 18-60. The Dragons actively support LGBTQI+, anti-sexist and anti-ageist initiatives. The club have also been supporters of Show Racism The Red Card, and partnered with the anti-sexism campaign Her Game Too, which features on the club’s training kit, jumpers, and shorts.

Inspired? To find your place in football, in Wales, head here. 

Can you introduce yourself and tell us your football journey up until now? 

Hello! My name is Ghazala Jabeen, and I live in Colwyn Bay. I am the Founder of No1 Marketing Machine. I am a beginner at football and usually play in defense.

No1 Marketing Machine is my Marketing Consultancy business, and I coach people on their self development journey, with fitness coaching and business coaching. I work with people to help them present their strengths and reach their goals.

I also run a programme called Bollywood Burnout and earned my nickname, ‘Gaz Jabeen The Bollywood Queen’. After using Bollywood dance during my own fitness journey, friends asked me to teach them. This went from three friends in the community hall to 33 people joining, and along the way I have opened more teaching venues, I have been booked for various events and even performed live to an audience of about 30,000. 

I have been previously involved with football with my children but more as a duty of being a mother at first - I was a spectator and living in a household with football fanatics.

Then I decided that if I can teach Bollywood Dance and Fitness, I can play football. After I lost my husband of 25 years to Pancreatic Cancer, I lost the will to do anything, and I went into depression and sadness. I needed to get out for my mental health and I decided to do something different. 

When Chris (co-founder of the North Wales Dragons Recreational Community Football Teams) mentioned about putting a women’s community football team together, it answered my prayer for finding something different to do. I joined the North Wales Dragons Women’s Club in 2021. I am so glad I did, because I started to learn new skills and meet people, life became fun and I started to smile again. This helped my journey out of my dark space.

What did you try to capture with your photos? Was there a wider meaning with the photos?

The photos are from various football pitches in North Wales. We have played on the pitches at Llandudno Football Club, Bangor University, Hotpoint Club, and now at Llandrillo College. You can see my teammates Bev, Sands (Sandra), Atty (Nicola), and Ffion. Sands used to play Rugby. 

I tried to capture the fun part of the game and the skills that we are learning about in football. Our warm up always puts us in a great mood and we all get very competitive!

What role does football play in your life and in your community? 

Football is so important for me, as I feel I escape into such a fun space while doing something very different and can be involved with different people than during the normal working day. It is good for my mental health.

What impact has North Wales Dragons had on you? Why is it so important to have an inclusive space to play? 

North Wales Dragons makes everyone welcome and there is no judgment. There are always opportunities for new people to join. We are acknowledged for all the different qualities and skills we bring to the pitch. 

The team always makes sure that everyone is counted and special. They have a BIG HEART.

It is like a family. The club accommodates us all and brings great experiences for us at each session.

How important is it for male allies to fight sexist abuse? 

It is very important for male allies to join us, as this helps inclusion for women and growth for men and sets a great example to the rest of society - teamwork, equality, and respect.

What do you think the future looks like for you and football in your community? What would you like to change?  

The more our community sees how much fun we have whilst getting fit, the more people will want to join us. I would also like us to create this kind of space in other areas, and bring great team building experiences into the workplace. I feel all workplaces need to look at creating better staff morale, fitness, and wellbeing through fun experiences. It should be a MUST for all.

Personally I want to improve, support the team with great skills, and encourage many more to join us - and for us all to grow and achieve our goals.

As I often say, ‘Together, let's make a mark as we make difference’.

Series edited by Emma Walley.