Barbados to 'Burque
United by the Numbers goes one-on-one with Niall Reid-Stephen (#7)
The inside collar of the United by the Numbers kit reads “Every Number Tells a Story”, and as I continue to interview New Mexico United players (past and present) for this book, that adage continues to prove itself categorically true.
Some of those uniform numbers hold a personal significance that is motivational, like former midfielder Justin Portillo (#43), who wore that number as a badge of honor because it was assigned to him when he was a young player on Real Salt Lake’s USL affiliate. It reminded him that at one point early in his career, some decision-maker deemed him not good enough to select his own number, and that perceived slight drove him for years to come.
Others like former midfielder Marco Micaletto (#10) chose his previous uniform number (he wore #22 in Columbus) to commemorate a collection of joyous occasions in his life — his mom’s birthday, as well as the year that he both won a collegiate national championship and got married.
Still other uniform number choices are more somber; a tribute to a dear friend who was tragically killed and left this earth way too damn soon.
~~~
Niall Reid-Stephen (#7) was born in Bridgetown on the small and picturesque island nation of Barbados. After starring at the youth level with Pro Shottas, he entered the professional ranks with UWI Blackhawks in the top flight of the Barbados Premier League in 2018.
I asked Reid-Stephen to describe his experience playing domestically in his home country and he said, “Back home, I feel like it’s a little bit easier. You know the players, you know their ability and you know your strengths. So, you just go off your strengths.”
In addition to turning pro in 2018, that same year he made his debut on the bright stage of international football on September 30, just three weeks after his 17th birthday. As of 2026, he has capped 22 times for his native Barbados, scoring 11 goals at the senior level.
Reid-Stephen’s ambitions helped guide his way to the United States to play football and attend school at Chicago State University (he later transferred to Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers).
“Better opportunities,” he replied, when I asked how he ended up in Chicago for college. “It was COVID time and there was no football going on back home,” he continued. He was offered a scholarship to play collegiately in the U.S., and he took a leap of faith. Or rather a sprint. “I just ran with it from there,” he said.
Ran with it, he did. In 2024, Reid-Stephen began his ascent up the American football pyramid, starting with the North Carolina-based, Sasquatch-themed NPSL side, Appalachian FC (sadly, Niall confirmed that he did not wear the Chewbacca-looking “fursey" released by the club, but that doesn’t mean you can’t).
“I know what you’re talking about,” he said behind a grin, “but I didn’t wear it.”
After a brief stint with Asheville City SC in USL League Two, he moved up to South Georgia Tormenta FC (RIP) in USL League One, where everything clicked for him.
“I feel like beginning of the season, I was trying to find my feet and then had a slight injury. I just told myself, ‘I’ve got to come back harder.’ Going into the second-half of the season, I really pushed myself.”
Reid-Stephen had a sensational year for the financially-ailing Tormenta, scoring a whopping 16 goals and providing 10 assists in 35 matches across all competitions (USL League One, playoffs, USL Cup and the U.S. Open Cup).
I asked him if he was aware that Tormenta was going through troubles (the team halted their operations ahead of the 2026 season) and he responded diplomatically. “I was hearing stuff, talking to my agent. I wasn't trying to focus on that. I was just trying to focus on my football. And then New Mexico…” he continued, “my agent told me that they shouted out to me.”
On January 1st, 2026, a day befitting optimism and new beginnings, New Mexico United announced the acquisition of Niall Reid-Stephen from Tormenta, with United paying a transfer fee that a league press release described as equaling, “the record fee paid in a transaction by a USL Championship club to a USL League One club.”
“Is there added pressure when a club purchases a player, as opposed to signing them on a free transfer?” I asked. “Yeah, definitely,” he responded. “Knowing that a club pays money for you. From there, you just gotta go and prove that you’re worth that money.”
Niall Reid-Stephen chose the #7 when he arrived in New Mexico, same as he’d worn with Tormenta. And though he is now #10 for Barbados at the international level, he previously wore the #7 for two years for the national team, as well.
“Why is #7 meaningful to you?” I asked.
“It has a big meaning,” he replied. “One of my friends passed away by gun violence.”
Niall Reid-Stephen’s friend was Kobe Shepherd, himself an accomplished football player for the Barbados Youth National Team. He was tragically shot and killed at the age of 22, while he was in front of his home.
“He used to wear #7, so from there I just said, ‘I’m going to wear #7 for him.’”
A 2022 piece that appeared in Barbados News relayed how friends and mourners shared their grief on social media, including a post from Reid-Stephen in tribute to his friend:
Former schoolmate and teammate at Pro Shottas and UWI, Niall Reid-Stephen, who now plays for Chicago State University, said, “I really wish I could of play your last game with you brother”.
Rest in peace, Kobe.
~~~
Though Niall had never set foot in New Mexico prior to joining the club, he did what the rest of us do when seeking answers to the unknown — he fired up Google.
“When I first found out about you guys, I took a look on the internet to see what’s there and what’s not. I knew it was going to be hot here. That’s, for me, a plus one, because Barbados is hot. And then when I got here, it was like kind of chilly, chilly! But I still grew myself into it. And I’m loving it so far.”
Through 10 league matches, Reid-Stephen’s three goals puts him atop United’s goalscoring leaderboard, trailed closely by Greg Hurst (#10 and #17) and Ousman Jabang (#15), with two goals apiece.
I asked him if he sets targets for himself and he responded in the affirmative. “Beginning of the season, I would say 10 plus goals. I try to hit ‘Team of the Week’ now and then, if not every week. But some games are up and down. Look at your mistakes and then you go from there again.”
After his goal-scoring effort on the road against Orange County SC in April, Reid-Stephen earned an 8.1 rating from FotMob and a spot on the USL Championship’s Team of the Week for his Man-of-the-Match exploits.
When he’s not accumulating league honors, Reid-Stephen relaxes by playing video games, swimming and vacationing in the Caribbean with friends. But when it’s time to share his gifts on the football pitch, he looks forward to doing it at the Lab.
“Just playing in front of you and in front of the fans. I feel like they're a very loving group.”
For someone who leads with his heart and literally wears the number of his departed friend on his back in tribute to his life, I’m grateful that Niall Reid-Stephen, in turn, feels the love and support from thousands of souls here as he represents our club and state through sport.
“For me, it’s all about that,” he continued. “Just knowing that you have a crowd behind you, just makes you feel special.”
~~~
Thank you for your time, Niall.
Book Update!📖
What if I told you it’s almost done?
This year has been one of competing priorities (surprise, my wife is pregnant!), but the manuscript now sits at a bloated 400+ pages and nearly 100,000 words. As you have accurately surmised, that’s way too damn long. And yet I have been slowly increasing the word count by transcribing and inserting player interviews, which has greatly enriched and personalized the player chapters. The downside is that it’s resulted in the addition a lot more words and my desire to edit those less necessary words out.
Trust the process. I’m trying my best to.
And fear not! Despite my wife’s current condition, she is eager to resume her position as the book’s editor-in-chief when I turn it over to her. Cuts are coming, I promise.
One thing I have learned: finishing a book is fucking hard. But I will finish this book (and for the record, not one keystroke or character has been aided by artificial intelligence, and that will absolutely not change).
That said, I’m really pleased at how many players I’ve had the pleasure to interview (67 and counting!). It’s one thing to tell a story, but to have personal accounts directly from the subjects of those stories make them infinitely more engaging. So thanks to all the players who have participated and thanks to all the people who have helped facilitate those interviews (Jules Myers has been killing it on this front recently. Thanks, Jules!).
I had made the decision to make the 2025 season the line of demarcation for players I would or would not cover in the book, and while that’s still the case for now (UBTN Volume II anyone? 💀) I would be remiss to not take the opportunity to write about a player and their motivations for choosing a uniform number just because my primary project is not yet complete. And I certainly don’t regret that decision after learning of Niall’s incredibly moving reasons for choosing the #7.
So there might be more of these types of pieces on the horizon…
That’s it for this post. Thanks, as always, for reading. And if you need to look up a number or a player, the All-Time Numerical Roster can be found here.
If you enjoyed this post and wanted to express your appreciation financially, I will do nothing to stand in your way, friend. You can support United by the Numbers (and the National MPS Society by way of my donations) by purchasing a UBTN kit by Olive & York. And if you don’t need a shirt and would rather send a small donation because I’m soon going to need lots of expensive baby stuff, there’s a tip jar just below.
Thanks again!