We're also celebrating Dimensions Leaders' List finalist Sohail from Leicester, whose passion, determination and love of football have inspired the people around him and helped create something special in his local community.
Sohail – Sports, Art and Entertainment Award Finalist
Sohail is football mad.
His nomination describes him as "a goalkeeper, and a keeper of goals", which couldn't be more fitting. One of Sohail's own goals was to be paid to help coach children's football sessions. Thanks to his hard work and commitment, that goal has already been scored.
Sohail coaches football sessions every fortnight with a local children's team. Alongside volunteering his time, he has been developing his coaching skills through the FA Learning portal, earning coaching badges and working towards further qualifications, including a specialist Goalkeeper Coaching course.
But Sohail's nomination isn't only about coaching football. It's about leadership, determination and creating opportunities for other people.
The nomination explains how Sohail decided he wanted to create his own football club. With a clear vision in mind, he set out to make it happen.
Working with people around him and leading every step of the journey, Sohail searched for pitches across Leicester, spoke to local organisations and built relationships within the community. Before long, MacIntyre Leicester Football Club was born.
Sohail quickly became Head Coach, Captain, goalkeeper, organiser and ambassador all rolled into one.
The team found a home at Cryuff Court in New Parks thanks to collaboration with Team Hub CIC and Leicester City in the Community. Training sessions began every fortnight and gradually grew as more people joined.
His nomination paints a brilliant picture of those early sessions, with Sohail finding his voice as a coach while also making sure there was plenty of laughter along the way. As the club grew, so did its reputation. Videos were shared, new players got involved and plans were made for friendly matches and future development.
There were challenges too.
Just before the club's first awards ceremony, Sohail was admitted to hospital. It was a huge disappointment, particularly with the season drawing to a close. Yet even from his hospital ward, Sohail remained focused on the club and continued helping to guide the team.
His determination didn't stop there.
Within days of returning home, Sohail was already speaking to local businesses about sponsorship opportunities for the club's future. His nomination describes how he successfully secured a twelve-month shirt sponsorship from local business Viva el Burrito, helping ensure the club could continue to grow.
Today, MacIntyre Leicester Football Club is looking ahead to another season, with training underway and excitement building.
Sohail's nomination highlights someone who consistently refuses to let barriers define what is possible. Through football, he has created opportunities, built connections and brought people together around a shared passion.
Whether he's coaching from the touchline, organising the next training session or encouraging teammates to keep going, Sohail leads with enthusiasm, humour and belief.
As his nomination puts it, his message is simple: "Never Give Up."
We're incredibly proud of Sohail and everything he has achieved, and we're delighted to celebrate his place as a finalist in the Dimensions Leaders' List.
