Lewis Nagle is hoping Wembley finally gives him his moment on Sunday when AFC Stoneham face Cockfosters in the 2026 FA Vase final. The 23-year-old defender says he wants to start alongside Dan Miller, a teammate who won the competition with Sholing a decade ago.
Nagle knows exactly what the stadium can mean. He was in the crowd at Wembley Stadium 12 years ago when Sholing beat West Auckland Town to lift the FA Vase, and he was there as a youth team player for Sholing in 2014 on that historic day. This week, AFC Stoneham's squad and coaching staff went to Wembley yesterday to get used to the surroundings before they return on Thursday, with the final set for Sunday.
For Nagle, the match carries a rare mix of nerves and routine. He said he has kept his preparation exactly the same for the final, adding that he will need to keep a calm head if he starts. “I've kept things exactly the same because the more you change, the more you question your decision to do so,” he said. “On Sunday, I will need to make sure I've got a calm head. Luckily for me, if I do start, I'm a young left-back playing across a really old back three.”
He also described the help Stoneham can lean on at the back. “We've got the likes of Dan Miller and Jake [Thomson] who have experience. Miller has been there and done it. That will only help us,” Nagle said. The club have been described by people spoken to at a recent training session as a family club, a label that fits the mood around their unexpected run to the final.
The Wembley return means something personal too. Nagle works as a care co-ordinator in Eastleigh, a job he said takes up his weekdays from nine-to-five, Monday to Friday, supporting people who cannot look after themselves. “I work nine-to-five Monday to Friday, ensuring people who can't look after themselves are supported by other staff members,” he said. “It's a really rewarding job, especially when they come into the office. I've got two clients from the Swanton area coming to watch as well.”
That blend of everyday work and one-off occasion is what makes Stoneham's final feel different. Nagle said he has dreamed of playing at Wembley, but never expected a semi-pro player to reach that stage. He expects the moment to hit hardest when the club go to the stadium on Thursday and he looks out at the pitch again, this time knowing he is due to play there. For AFC Stoneham, Sunday is not just another final. It is the chance to turn a family club's long shot into something permanent.
