Non-League and Academy football writer

Eric Najib is the men’s first XI manager at Stonewall FC. Eric has been associated with the club, firstly as a player, during the club’s early days in the Middlesex County Football League (during the early 2000s), and he has since been the manager of the men’s first XI since 2006. Eric has dedicated so much time to Stonewall FC, and he is a real club legend, who has achieved so much during his time at the club, so far. I recently interviewed Eric, about some of his many memories of being involved with the club, in the Middlesex County Football League.

Could you talk me through a bit about your background in football, prior to becoming the manager of the first team at Stonewall?

Eric: I started off playing football for my school team, before then playing senior football for teams such as Chelsea Casuals, who were a well known amateur and friendly Sunday side. Chelsea Casuals were run by the esteemed journalist Brian Glanville, back in the day, and at that time I was playing outfield. After breaking my leg after going skiing, I then wanted to rush back to playing football as quickly as possible. And, as I couldn’t run I knew that the only position that I could play, was as a goalkeeper, which I found out that I was better at, than as an outfield player. From the ages of 18 to 26, I stopped playing football. And that was mainly because I was so busy going to so many Manchester United games (home and away), at that time, as a big supporter of the club.

Around the time that I was about 26, I was having a drink in a bar with a very good friend of mine, and someone who was the best man at my wedding, called Andy Walmsley, who was the then captain of Stonewall (Andy would later become the chairman of the club, appointing me as first team manager in 2006). He kept on telling me to join Stonewall, and play football for them. He eventually persuaded me to go down to training, one evening at Market Road, which was where we used to train. I knew that Stonewall was an LGBT football team, but I wasn’t sure how good the standard was going to be. After I’d put my goalkeeping gloves on, the first couple of shots on goal flew past me and went into the top of the net, and I knew then that this was a very good standard. I enjoyed being at the club right from the very start, and I became the goalkeeper for the first team at the end of 2001. And for the next 13/14 years, of which includes my time as manager, I played for the Stonewall first team.

You were a player for Stonewall, during their early days in the Middlesex County Football League. What are some of your earliest memories of being involved with the club, in the league?

Eric: It was a very different league back then. We’ve always loved the support that we’ve had from the MCFL, and the way in which they welcomed us in to the league. However, back then times were different, let’s be honest, and we did face some prejudice. We faced some teams who you could clearly tell were uncomfortable playing against us, and we faced some outward homophobia, as well as facing some discreet homophobia, where you could sense that teams weren’t quite comfortable playing against us, but who were just more polite about it. But, year on year, game after game, and the results/reputation that we built for ourselves, would gradually see us not only gain so much respect, but we also educated so many people. Because we were and are just a football team like everyone else and everything else is immaterial, but our relationship nowadays with most clubs is top notch. But, back then things could be difficult, and we had some tough moments. Although I truly believe that through the power of education and challenging the stereotypes of what gay men should be doing, we really did educate a lot of people.

We played a team who I won’t name, who we played in a stadium, and they didn’t say a word to us, and they were always polite. However, they wouldn’t leave the changing room (the ground had communal showers) until we had left the building. But, when you played them later in the season, they’d say hello and how is your season going, and then the next season after you’d talk more to them, and by the time that you had played that same team four/five times, then that mistrust, if you like, that they had of us, had completely dissipated. So that trajectory in two or three years, they then invited us to take part in their annual summer football tournament. That to me is the power of football, but also the power of education for a club like ours.

What are your some of your standout memories from your time as a player, for Stonewall?

Eric: I played in some mighty games for Stonewall, but for me, my biggest memory was playing in the Middlesex Open League Cup final in 2004, and that was the only time we have won a domestic cup at MCFL level, and we won 2-0 in extra-time against Istanbulspor. However, at 0-0 and with five minutes to go, I saved a penalty (I never used to save penalties!) which took the game to extra-time, before we went on to score two goals, one of which was scored by Ian Drain, who was the best player who I ever played with at Stonewall. And so that is my standout memory as a player, at Stonewall.

What are your some of your standout memories from your time as a manager, at Stonewall, so far?

Eric: I’ve been fortunate enough to be the manager of the men’s first team since 2006, and there are two or three memories which immediately spring to mind. One of which was leading Stonewall out at Wembley, which is something that I will never forget. The fact that the FA had allowed us to host a league game at Wembley against our friends and rivals in Wilberforce Wanderers, who we’d played around 25 times, was incredible. I can remember waking up that next morning and thinking that it was all a dream. But on the day of the game, I met up with Stephen Hosmer quite early on during that day, and I remember walking down Wembley way, with Stonewall versus Wilberforce Wanderers written up on the stadium. As much as everything was a blur from that day, there are so many monumental things about that day. And, it was fantastic recognition for the MCFL and what they had done in inviting us in to the league, back when other teams were annoyed that we’d even been invited in to the league.

We wanted the MCFL to be part of the journey to Wembley, as well as Wilberforce Wanderers, who we’d faced more than anyone else. And so on one of my Saturday’s off, I actually went down to Wilberforce Wanderers (only their club secretary knew!) to watch one of their games. Before the game I went in to their changing room, and I told their club secretary, Andrew, that I was going to make an announcement. I told the players that I had some good news, and bad news. And that the bad news was that our game against them had been moved to a Friday night. I then told them that the good news was that our game was being played at Wembley Stadium. Their reactions were incredible, and they all looked at Andrew, who confirmed this to them. I didn’t have to buy a drink that whole afternoon. But, it was all an incredible experience. It was also very important to be able to say that we won that match at Wembley, and in doing so we became the only team ever to win an amateur league game there.

We’ve also been fortunate enough that through our sponsors, partners and relationships, to play matches at the Emirates Stadium, twice at Old Trafford, at St George’s Park, and at Leyton Orient’s ground. So we’ve been very lucky to have those experiences. The games in which we’ve ended up being promoted from have always been great moments, and I remember us being very much a yo-yo team, spending one season in the Premier Division, and then the next season in Division One. But, after relocating to Stratford, through our amazing partnership with Adidas and EA Sports, we have really found a base here. We have also managed to attract some fantastic players from the LGBTQ+ community, and indeed allies of course, which is hugely important. We’ve also setup a women’s and non-binary team, who are doing fantastically. Just getting back in to the Premier Division allowed us that platform. 

When we were in the Division One East & Central, we needed to beat a team called The Curve, in order to win the division. We won that game 2-1, with James Motley getting the winning goal late on, but, in the last minute of the game they put a corner-kick into our box, which one of our defenders had blatantly hand-balled. But, the referee missed it, and we went on to win promotion. Also, we’ve been hugely fortunate to have participated in the Gay Games and the IGLFA World Championships, on multiple occasions, and as recently as last year (2024), when we memorably won the IGLFA in Argentina. 

Could you talk me through a bit about the season so far (2024/25) with Stonewall’s men’s first team? Also, what have you made of the Middlesex County Football League Premier Division season as a whole?

Eric: We’re having a really good season, and we made some good recruitment during the summer, and so we have a nicely balanced squad. We started the season really well, winning the first seven or eight league games in a row, but, my fear was that we were competing in the IGLFA World Championships in November, as it was based on the season in South America. And, I knew at the time that this was something that could potentially damage our league season. You can see the difference in our league form before going to Argentina, and after having returned from Argentina, and there is a big difference, because of the intensity of the games, as well as the travel, it takes a lot out of you. We came back from that tournament fairly depleted, albeit with a fantastic World Cup trophy. From the games that we have played on our return to England, we have won seven and lost five.

We wanted to achieve a top five finish in the league this season, but I can’t help but think that if we hadn’t have competed in the tournament in Argentina, then we would’ve had a real chance of winning the league title, this season, although that still isn’t out of the question. In terms of the league season as a whole, I think that it’s been one of the most competitive league season’s that I can remember. I always seem to think that there is a team who runs away with the league, such as NW London, Brentham, and Clapton Community, but this year the league season has been a lot more even, and there have been some strange results so far this season. SL Benfica clearly have the edge on everyone at this point in the season, with Hayes & Hillingdon trying to catch up, with games in hand. They are all very good teams in the top seven of the Premier Division, but, I think that Benfica have just got enough to win the title at this moment.

When we played Benfica the second time (they won 3-2), the referee emailed both sides after the game, to say that it was the best game of football that he’d ever been involved in. It was gutting to lose that game after having been 2-0 up, but it was as good a level of football that I’ve seen at step 7. Both teams just wanted to play football the entire game, and credit to Benfica, who want to play football the right way, and I think that they’ll do well at step 6.

Who has been the most difficult team that you have faced (for their quality) during this season?

Eric: Our two worst results of the season have been against Eagles Land Cricklewood, who have recently gone on an amazing run in the league. They have been our toughest opposition so far this season, having beaten us 4-1 on both occasions. So although I do think that Benfica are the best team in the league, I have to be honest, and Eagles Land Cricklewood are the team who have given us the toughest games, and who have ultimately been our toughest opponents. 

Who has been the most difficult team that you have faced (for their quality) over the years, in the Middlesex County Football League?

Eric: Going way back, Willesden Constantine were an outstanding team. They were just out of this world for their quality. Also, Interwood were another incredible team, but, in more recent times and when they were at their best, Brentham were so good. Clapton Community were another really good team, who I greatly respect as a club.

What has been your favourite team performance from the Stonewall first XI, so for this season (2024/25)?

Eric: One of them was our performance (in the second game) against Benfica, when we lost 3-2. As that is how I want us to play football, but we lost to the better team, who are probably going to win the league by about six or seven points. However, the football that we played on that day, is what I want us to play like. But, in terms of our most complete performance of this season, I would have to say our home fixture with Camden & Islington United. They beat us 4-0 towards the end of the previous season, and so to put in a really good performance against them this season was very good, and we did of course win that game.

What are some of your hopes and aims for the remainder of this season (2024/25), and beyond, with Stonewall FC?

Eric: I think that for this season we are in a very good position to finish in the top five of the league. For us though, this has been the most consistent and successful period of the club during our last three seasons, having finished sixth, seventh and sixth, which is something that we’d never done before. But, the aim for this season was always to get into that top five of the league. Second, third and fourth place is still very much achievable for this season, but if I had to choose what I really wanted, it would be to break into that top five. Moving forward, if we continue to grow as we are, then we have to start looking at trying to win promotion to step 6 as a possibility. We’re not a million miles away from that, but if we can get the facilities and structure in place, then we can hopefully follow in the footsteps of great former teams of the Middlesex League, like NW London and Clapton Community.