UK politician Lord Diljit Rana visits Minerva Punjab FC campus (Photo courtesy: Minerva Punjab FC)
I-League champions Minerva Punjab FC had a special visitor at their Campus this morning in British politician and member of the House of Lords, Lord Diljit Singh Rana.
Lord Diljit Singh Rana, who was interestingly born in Sanghol, Punjab settled in UK at Belfast since 1966, He has been a successful property Developer, Hotelier and President of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He is director of Andras House, which is a leading figure in the Indian community in Northern Ireland. He is also India’s honorary consul in Belfast.
Lord Diljit Rana owns Southhall United FC which plays in the Spartan South Midlands Football League and were Champions of Division 1 (Promoted). The club has famously featured USA International Center back Jay DeMerit, former Wales International Defender Eric Young, former Crystal Palace starlet Alfred Hawkins, England international Striker Leslie Ferdinand and many others since it’s inception in 1871.
The Club based based in Southall in the London Borough of Ealing were famously featured in Bollywood film, Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal, makes use of the name “Southall FC” for a fictional club integral to the storyline.
In December, Lord Diljit Rana hired a UEFA licensed coach named Tommy Taylor to establish a football academy at his native village Sanghol in Punjab’s Fatehgarh Sahib district, having being pleased with the news that Minerva Punjab FC were crowned Champions of the I-League and being one of the feeder club’s for Indian National Teams across all age groups, he visited the Club’s lush green campus in Mohali to have a first hand look at the facilities and was further impressed with what the club has achieved in such a short span of time.