Inshallah United -AStory of Faith and Football, by Nooruddean Choudry, Published by Harper North, Price: £16.99
INSHALLAH United is an unusual and entertaining memoir about a footballloving British-born Pakistani living in north Manchester. Nooruddean Choudry is a Muslim, Manchester United-supporting, Morrissey-loving, Maggie Thatcher-hating, working-class Mancunian.
Growing v up in the late 1980s and 90s as a devout Muslim and Stretford Ender, Nooruddean has many out-of-the-ordinary experiences. He is praying five times a day while also worshipping his heroes such as Andrei Kanchelskis, Norman Whiteside and Eric Cantona at Old Trafford.
His early experiences of visiting the ground are well described.
“Old Trafford was two buses away but was like visiting a different country. Or a different reality inside the pages of a book. Arriving at the ground was strangely exotic considering the weather was just as shite and it was beside an industrial estate. Every smell, sight and sound was so in-yourface and intense. Fanzine sellers sporadically bellowing over the crowd; the deliciously greasy smell of burgers and onions frying from van to van; even the rumbling noise of such a mass of excited people crammed into one space was an assault on the senses.”
There are several top five lists such as his top five pretend Uncles; top five players I wish United had signed; top five favourite United players from the 1990s; top five desi stereo- types that are actually true (Disclaimer #notallAsians); top five favourite 1990s movies; top five songs that made me feel like I was the main character in a film on the 135 bus; top five common fallacies about Muslims etc.
Nooruddean’s enjoyment of football is offset by his struggles growing up and his father’s lectures about using his time more productively. He struggles to fit into mainstream society and when he wins a place at Bury Grammar School he moves away from his friends and finds Grammar school life challenging.
The memoir provides an illuminating insight into working-class Muslim family life.
His father’s premature death at the age of only 56 was an especially difficult time for Nooruddean. “You lose people you couldn’t imagine living without and find others who make the time before them seem meaningless. But there are always constants. For me, these are my faith, my family and, sad as it seems, football. These are things that keep you centred and sane. In the immediate aftermath of my dad dying, I cared more about football, not less.”
If there is a criticism of the book, it is that there is not quite as much about Manchester United as I had expected. However, this doesn’t detract from it being an authentic account of growing up as a working-class, football-loving Muslim. Inshallah United is a charming, witty and engaging memoir that deserves your attention.
Rating out of 10: 8
