NATHAN ELLINGTON: People in football are not aware of what Muslims need to do... one manager dropped me because I was fasting even though I was not struggling


Natahn Ellington

Nathan Ellington is a footballer who converted to Islam in 2005 and in his debut Footballers' Football Column he explains the challenges he has had to overcome in the game. The former Wigan, West Brom, Derby, Watford and Crewe striker explains how one manager dropped him while he was fasting during Ramadan and says there is no reason why he cannot fulfill both his football and religious commitments side by side. Before you read his column, watch his video below...


As a Muslim football player I encountered some problems in the past. I had one agent of mine being in the presence of a manager and when my name was brought up he'd be talking negatively about me because I'm a Muslim. I hadn't even changed that much at the time. He felt the need to say something about me. I wasn't even fasting or praying at that point.

A friend of mine called me saying players have been talking about me saying I'm praying in the corner somewhere and joking about it. It was supposed to be banter, I think. This gets around. I started getting a bad name just because I'm Muslim.

Then there was the time a manager dropped me because I was fasting. I'd started Ramadan, the month each year where Muslims around the world don't eat or drink in the hours from dawn 'til sunset, and halfway through the manager didn't realise I was doing it until someone on the training ground mentioned it.

Warming up: Nathan Ellington warms for Crewe last season

Warming up: Nathan Ellington warms for Crewe last season

The manager then told me he was dropping me from contention. I thought it was a joke. Then we had a more serious conversation and he said it was playing on his mind that I wasn't eating or drinking. I said I was playing before without him noticing.

I pointed out there were no signs I was struggling in any way and he should only worry if I'm not doing well, like Demba Ba has said in the past. He still dropped me to the bench, and sometimes I was not in the Squad at all.

There were times when managers, coaches and players didn't pay so much attention to what they were eating or drinking and they still played well. The fact I was doing something slightly different than they know, well it now became a problem.

I know it affects some people more than others, but If I feel that I can cope I don't see why it's a problem. I trained fine for Crewe during this Ramadan. I might get a dry mouth during running sessions. But I can still do them. I might feel more tired after training and have a nap. Your body gets used to it. But what can you do? If someone's made their mind up, you've just got to stay strong.

Younger players generally won't say anything. It's hard enough to make it as a footballer but it gets harder if they start bringing in their religion. I see young players who don't want to do certain things because it's different and they're scared to ask to pray on a Friday or ask for halal meat in the canteen or at digs where they may be staying with a family. They're compromising their religion, it shouldn't be like that.

But it's getting easier. That's why the Association of Muslim Footballers, which I played a part in setting up in 2011, is there. I was one of the first people in football to openly put myself out there as a practicing Muslim. I got judged and had to get through it.

It's like the black guys back in the day who were the first to get stick before it became easy for the rest of us. A lot of bad stuff happened, a lot behind the scenes. It was very unjustified. I try to make sure there's awareness, this is what we're about. Muslims aren't different, we're very professional.

I got a call recently to speak to a young player in a youth team because the coaches said he was a Muslim and needed help juggling training and religion. They were saying he's more interested in religion than football. I thought, hang on a minute.

Talking tactics: Ellington talks to then Wigan boss Paul Jewell

Talking tactics: Ellington talks to then Wigan boss Paul Jewell

Eyes on the ball: Ellington holds off Sheffield Wednesday's Darren Purse during his Watford days


When I asked the player how he was getting on I didn't get any signs that he was putting football behind anything. He was doing his best at football but he was just trying to do what he has to do within in the boundaries of his religion. It doesn't compromise his football. Why can't you do both? That sort of thing needs to change.

People need to realise you can pray five times a day and it's not a problem, it shouldn't matter to anybody else. I reverted to Islam a little while before I married my wife in 2005. It took about two years before I started praying. It wasn't straight away.

I fasted maybe for a couple of days at the beginning then more and more. At the beginning I didn't think I had to do everything. I looked at Islam in a relaxed fashion, the same way as I did Christianity. I'd been brought up as a Christian and just felt as long as you believe and you're a good person you'll be OK.

Then as I learned more and more about Islam, I realised that everything is recorded and you will be judged according to God's rules and not what I pick and choose. I built it up gradually. I didn't change completely straight away, it would have been too overwhelming to do that. It became a learning and implementing experience.

Man of faith: Demba Ba is another player who is a practicing Muslim and observes fasting during Ramadan


Yaya Toure
Mesut Ozil

Top of their game: Yaya Toure and Mesut Ozil are both practicing Muslims

The more you learn the more you understand. You slowly change according to your knowledge. You improve yourself when you're ready. Everybody is on their own journey and they go at a pace that they feel comfortable with.

When I learned more, I began to pray more, I became excited and wanted to share my experiences with everyone. I found that a challenge because not many people are interested in religion, even more so within football culture. I found there was a time when to speak and when not to. Other people have to ask you about it.

There's no point you instigating it. In the early stages I was listening, watching and reading and really wanted to tell the world.

Part of your job as a Muslim is to make others aware of the religion. It's not just something for me, it was something for everybody. But when it came to relaying things it was difficult to remember everything. That was another challenge.

Now I get a lot of people asking me about it. When I'm not around, people want to know what I'm doing. That was a transitional part for me. If people want to understand what I'm doing I'm happy to tell them.

Dangerous striker: Ellington scored 15 goals in 68 games for West Brom


It was a challenge at the beginning to get used to the way of life of praying on a regular basis. I was worried about how I was seen around the clubs and with the managers.

They would say I'm too interested in religion. It's silly. On the bus I might be reading the Koran or trying to learn Arabic. Others would be betting or playing cards. That was seen as normal but mine was seen as if I wasn't interested in football anymore. Generally gambling is seen as bad in society but here it was seen as better than what I was doing. I got seen as someone not interested in football anymore. It's very frustrating.

Even now you'll hear the odd comment. Just because I practice Ramadan some people have that thought. I'm training exactly the same. The only difference is I'm practicing my faith.

The Association of Muslim Footballers is a support network for all players. We consult with the PFA and assist with the players. We're somewhere to find out more information and help with issues they have.

No issues: Ellington says he has never had an issue training while fasting


Whether it's good or bad, people can speak to us, we can explain what's going on. It might be the case that a player needs something at a club, but he might feel more comfortable speaking to us then we can speak to the PFA and help them.

A player might be coming over from a different country and feel isolated. Their family might find it difficult. The culture is very different here. They can't go to nightclubs and do things like that. They need to find like-minded people and feel at home. If that's covered and they're happy, it helps.

At Christmas, clubs might have a party or go to a certain place. Muslims can't go to these places, if there is alcohol there for example. If the club understands they won't insist they come or fine them if they don't, or they might change the venue or what they do.

The player won't worry they're going to be fined for not going. That kind of thing makes the workplace better and more cohesive, mixing all religions and cultures.

In the future clubs might work with us. They could come to us wanting advice. It might be research for a player in another country they might think what will he need and they can put that to him when they offer him a contract. They might find the nearest mosque for him or cater for any needs he has.

A lot of players, managers and coaches don't know what practicing Muslim football players have to do. If they do, it makes it easier to get more success from players and teams. The more awareness the better.