I hate football with a vengeance. So when I was asked to attend my first ever football match and write about why Asian women don't go in greater numbers, I wasn't exactly jumping for joy. By Sarvat Jabeen Khan

Here we go, here we go, here we go! How the fajitas did I get talked into going to a football match? Oh yeah, I remember it was the whole 'come on, you cant make a judgement on something you have never experienced'.

If I had merely gone on name alone then I would never have sampled the delight of my favourite desert 'Mississippi mud pie'. It is the new mindset I have taken on board of 'let's not rush to judge, at least give it a chance'.

The morning of the game is here and I find myself in a car with my husband and his two nephews. Half way to the stadium and I spot a blue and white shirt, the Blackburn Rovers shirt and I begin to clap enthusiastically!

As we approach the ground the number of supporters continues to swell, carrying their flags, scarves and other blue and white paraphernalia!

With increasing trepidation the time approaches 12:07. I spot a fellow Asian female all be it she is 11! We drive round the corner and I see the ground. Jack Walkers place of worship Ewood Football ground is in full view! My hometowns football club quietly impresses me, the influx of fans descending on the ground is climaxing.

I have tickets for the Jack walker stand, talking of which I stop to admire the statuesque memorial to Blackburn Rovers number one fan. Thats what I call putting your money where your mouth is.

Im sure he wouldnt take offence to being called a fanatic, as he truly was for Blackburn Rovers the caped crusader!

The stewards I meet along the way are friendly, helpful and smiling! Their optimism is admirable, we are facing Arsenal but loyalty is unwavering.

Ive been told I could not have chosen a better day for outing myself as a Blue and White supporter as not only have I chosen a good match but also the weather is surprisingly pleasant. The sun is shining high, its a clear blue sky; 18 degrees in March now thats a miracle, but will there be a miracle on the pitch I wonder?

I scan the crowd of supporters for fellow Asian women but none can be seen. There are enough Asian men but the only two other females I have seen are ten year olds.

I wonder about security as Im sat only a few feet from the Arsenal fans but there are stewards keeping close watch on all proceedings.

Were a happy bunch, standing quickly to make way for the delayed fan trying to get to their seat. When the starting whistle blows I get a glimpse of Patrick Viera (hey who said I was football player illiterate) he seems bigger than I thought he would be.

Oh my giddy aunt is that Arsene Wengar, I spot him from the corner of my eye. I guess in my otherwise sheltered life that would have to be my claim to fame.

The Arsenal fans are very vocal in their ear drum aching voice chanting, We love you Arsenal we do, We love you Arsenal we do, none of them would make it into a choir but these are hard core fans who have travelled up from London and for many it must feel like travelling abroad.

There are five fans in wheel chairs just at the sidelines. Four men and one woman, they watch avidly and I smile as prejudice is nowhere to be found, after all a fan is a fan!

I have come here today to see what all the fuss is about, eleven grown men kicking a leatherette sphere across a field with the aim of depositing it into the net on the opposite side.

The atmosphere seems to hold a contagious quality as I sit there with a smile on my face. The excitement is rising as the match is up close and personal. It seems everyone has an opinion on the goings on of the pitch and are not coy about sharing it with anyone within earshot.

Fifteen minutes into the match I find myself paying more attention to the advertising on the sidelines rather than the pitch. Come on Concentrate, concentrate! Apparently these two teams will meet again at Cardiff in the FA cup semi final.

To think I have given up CD UK for this! I could really do with a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit. I thought the whole aim of the game was to score so why do they keep passing it from one end to the other? The Arsenal fans are now chanting we hate Tottenham; well that makes no sense to me at all!

My husband leans over to inform me Blackburn are playing well so far. Really, so why have they not scored yet! At 1.19 the most serious attempt is made on goal by Blackburn, a huge cheer goes up, well that woke me up!

Eight minutes later Arsenal score and Blackburn slowly deflate. I always knew Blackburn were the weaker team but I feel disappointment. At half time like little ants, the fans queue in single file to stuff their faces with cholesterol-laden burgers and chips.

The second half passes excruciatingly slowly with not much by way of action on the pitch. Hey, I spot an Asian girl among the crowd of Arsenal supporters she wears the shirt and scarf.

By this time Id seen enough football to last me a lifetime, and thats me predicting I will live to the grand old age of 127! It would have to be the longest ninety minutes of my life and that includes when I was in labour! I would rather spend ninety minutes watching the carpet grow! This experience has reinforced my decision to name a room in the house the escape from football room. To say its not my cup of chai I would be putting it mildly!

Enough of my hate for footy and back to the million rupee question, Why do Asian women not got to football matches?

Its not like its got anything to do with religion, nowhere is it written in stone, thou shall not bear witness to Blackburn Rovers losing a match (sorry, couldnt resist).

The crowd is predominantly male but I didnt feel the atmosphere would be intimidating to women. Contrary to what I imagined everyone seemed to be out to enjoy themselves and completely consumed with the action on the pitch. As far as safety goes, with the number of stewards present its something that could not be questioned. Another reason could be the foul language sometimes chanted; again I heard no evidence of this where I was sat.

So is it that demon called CULTURE rearing its ugly head again? The thinking that you dont go to a game because its no place for a woman, well why not? With the game being predominantly male, a woman would have to be a die-hard football fan to attend the games. With the rise of all seater stadiums and family enclosures it seems the sport is attempting to attract the fairer sex.

I think football is a sport that brings out in you one of the two extremes of emotions, love or hate.

I remember my school days when Wednesday afternoon was spent doing P.E. - a form of torture as I recall.

All my friends were of the same mind-set, we detested sport! If Im your average Asian female then I will say give me CD UK and a cup of tea any day!

But maybe Im not.