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Stonewall FC Gains Promotion

Friday, 29 May 2009

London’s Stonewall FC has achieved a landmark in soccer by earning promotion to the Middlesex County Football League Premier division, having finished the 2008/9 season as runners up in Division 1.

The first team of Stonewall FC, sponsored by Barclays Bank, were already playing Saturday afternoon football at the highest competitive level of any gay football club in the world. The promotion means the club now moves up into the "National League System" Step 7, the pyramid system that feeds up into the country’s top divisions.

It completes an extraordinary period of success for the football club who last summer made an unprecedented clean sweep of every trophy possible for them to win. In August they beat Argentina 5-0 in the ILGFA gay World Cup final held at Leyton Orient’s Matchroom stadium; they won gold at Eurogames in Barcelona in July 2008, and the Ford Pride trophy in June 2008. They are also current holders of the “Gay Olympic” title having won Gold at the Gay games in Chicago in 2006; they will defend their title in Cologne next year.

Manager Eric Armanazi said "It’s a reward for hard work and commitment. I’m confident we can give a good account of ourselves at this next level of football"

Club Chairman Liam Jarnecki said "We thank Barclays Bank for their continued support and we hope we can continue to build on this success. The whole club is delighted and so proud of what Eric and the players have achieved. The club's mission is to be competitive and achieve as high as we can in football whilst also trying to provide access to football for all."