Cod Almighty | Article
by Richard Lord
1 July 2010
Well hello there, Gateshead. Let's talk about you.
The Gateshead that we are preparing to face this season was reformed in 1977, after the folding of the previously well-established Gateshead that your dad or grandad used to know. This is an exciting time for genuine Tynesiders, as the club has made the brave and somewhat bold decision to go full-time from this summer. At first glance, this seems quite a positive and ambitious move. But it's often the case that influential players and staff just can't (or won't) make the same commitment, and so a gradual re-building process will have been taking place this summer at the non-footy-friendly Gateshead International Stadium.
There's nothing wrong with the facilities – if you're there to enjoy the athletics, that is – but if you've been to the Don Valley Stadium you'll know what to expect in terms of an atmosphere. Still, it's a situation the club is only too aware of, and in October 2009 they announced plans to relocate to a new purpose-built 6,000-seater stadium in the middle of the town, and if things go according to plan, they could be playing there by 2011-12.
Gateshead, much like the Mariners, have struggled through their geographical isolation to establish a meaningful rivalry. You'll find that just about every Gateshead fan will also be a fan of Newcastle United, and they will therefore despise Sunderland, but their main rivals, due to their non-League status, are Blyth Spartans. However, fans will probably enjoy striking up a modern-era rivalry with Darlington too, since they are only 45 minutes down the A1. More diluted rivalries will remain with the likes of Whitby Town and Bishop Auckland – or anyone within a two-hour drive, really.
Gateshead lose at home to Oxford, September 2009, watched by 600 fans and a passing discus thrower. Photo: Nick Ansell (cc by-nc-nd 2.0)
Manager Ian Bogie, who was once touted as the next Paul Gascoigne as a youngster at Newcastle, has already shown his astuteness in the transfer market. He signed forward Lee Novak from Newcastle Blue Star for just £3,500 before selling him on to Huddersfield for £150,000. He also worked as head coach for the local college to ensure that young footballers gain a career in the sport while also obtaining an education. He's a likeable character who had that special 'Pouton' relationship with the fans of each club he played for. He was a real crowd pleaser with bags of talent, but too often turned in the type of ineffectual performances we saw from the great Stuart Campbell, which is why he was limited to a career with Leyton Orient, Millwall and Port Vale. His early management career record looks promising though.
Do you come here often?
Gateshead spent time in non-League's top division in the early 1980s. But the club soon hit a period of decline and only earned their place back in the Football Conference in May 2009 when they defeated ten-man AFC Telford 1-0 in the Conference North play-off final. It's been a steady rather than meteoric rise through the leagues, although there is no denying that they have been particularly impressive under the guidance of Bogie. Last season was a stern test for everyone at the club, but they beat relegation – albeit on the last day of the season, when Daryl Clare scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 home win over Wimbledon.
Just seven years ago Gateshead began the season in the Northern Premier League first division and it's taken three promotions to get to where they are now. Fans aren't going to be satisfied with levelling off in the Conference – they've got their eyes on getting back into the Football League to emulate the success of their previous club during the 30s, 40s and 50s.
Haven't I seen you somewhere before?
Gateshead and Grimsby haven't met since the Tynesiders reformed 33 years ago, so this is the shortest section of the Rough Guide. But since you love a Rough Guide, I'll fill you in on when the two clubs did meet...
The Mariners played the old Gateshead FC home and away over five consecutive seasons in the third division (north) during the 1950s. Town never tasted victory in the north-east – in fact, we once lost 7-1 at Redheugh Park less than a month into Billy Walsh's management career. With a 3-1 FA Cup win at Blundell Park in 1975, Gateshead became the only non-League side to have beaten Town in nearly three decades until we lost at Exeter in 2004.
Daryl Clare will be a familiar face to Mariners fans – that's if he's still there when we meet, and not moved on to yet another Conference club where he'll score a handful of goals and sign for Kidderminster or something. He once scored against us for Boston, and that was in the Football League, so I worry what he'll do now that we've been kind enough to drop to his predatory level. Gateshead did own Andy Parkinson for a bit last season, but despite him playing well and contributing to the survival push, Bogie decided not to offer him a new deal.
What can we do when the sun goes down?
If you haven't already thought about it this way (and let's be honest, you probably haven't), the trip to Gateshead could actually be one to share for a couple where both partners aren't into the football. One can trundle off to the soulless stadium where Town will break your heart, while the other goes off to the Metro Centre to break the bank.
Afterwards, if you're still on speaking terms, you can cosy up to the iconic Angel of the North during a typically dramatic sunset that accompanies every visit to the steel statue (judging by tourist websites, anyway). If you like an attractive bridge, like all John Terrys do, then check out the Gateshead Millennium Bridge at night. It's modern architecture at its best; it's got lights, a slow-moving arch and everything! Otherwise, get yourself down the Bigg Market in Newcastle's city centre, if you like that sort of thing – just be careful what you say if you bump into Magpies striker Andy Carroll. [Really must Google this – ed.]
Vital statistics
Last season
League placing: 20th, Conference Premier, P44 W13 D7 L24 F46 A69 Pts45
Home and away rankings: 12th and 22nd in the division
Average attendance: 667 (rank: 22nd in the division, 130th in England)
Mileage travelled: 5,736 (longest in the division; only these and Barrow went more than 4,000!)
This season
Like the Mariners, Gateshead have made five signings ahead of the new season and are looking for a couple more before the campaign gets under way. Players who have signed on the dotted line at the International Stadium so far include former Hartlepool central defender Ben Clark and Chester-le-Street Town striker Nathan Fisher, who scored 44 times in 49 starts in the Northern League last season.
Squad size: 20 (as at 24 June)
Odds on winning the league: 100/1 (Blue Square; the shortest it gets is 66/1 with Bet365)
Do say
"Ha'way man, let's gan doon the toon for some Newkie Broon."
Don't say
"Them Mackems are doin' alreet, y'naa."
Do you know Gateshead or the surrounding area? We want your recommendations for local pubs, cafés or B&Bs, to feature in our pre-match factfiles during next season. Use the Cod Almighty feedback form to send them in – or to share any other thoughts you might have about our Rough Guide to the Conference.