Heed

There's a decent article on the Chronicle website documenting what's going on behind the scenes - The on-field success and off-field struggles of Gateshead FC ahead of key fans meeting on Thursday

The tie up between the two clubs comes from a few years ago when the then Gateshead owner was looking to get out. You were apparently looking to to create some sort of feeder club model for players to progress through to the first team. The idea was starting them on loan at Gateshead (having progressed Gateshead to being a league 2/1 club), moving them on to Rangers, then onto a Spanish club (can't remember which one he was interested in, think it may've been one of the Spanish island ones) and finally the first team. Gateshead's involvement in the plan came to an end when the then owner sold the club to a local couple who were set to sell their business. I guess the overall plan was scrapped when it all wonky with Rangers?

He's chucked daft money at Eastleigh and they've repeatedly failed to make much of an impression on the Conference.

If you've got nowt on tomorrow, we'd gratefully accept any extra support at Gateshead Stadium as we try to overturn a one goal deficit to reach Wembley.

From his point of view they have a bigger fanbase, easier to attract players to (reputation, further south), better ground & it looks better on his CV to advance his career (Manager of recent ex-league club Wrexham Vs Manager of little Gateshead). From our point of view it feels like a boot in the teeth, especially his unnecessary comments to the local Wrexham newspaper yesterday. If it goes wrong for him down there (unlikely), it'll now be very hard to comeback to us with any respect from the fans, players & I'd imagine the Chairman. As for the 70 or so who applied after Smith hoisted the white flag, the majority were dross who apply for anything and everything gong, and the few ok candidates are now employed elsewhere.

Looking forward to seeing what Roberts has to offer. The little bits I've seen he looked like a Marcus Maddison sort of player who we've massively missed since flogging to Peterborough. Hopefully it'll kick start Campbell too, who looks to have been stuttering on his loans at other clubs.

Strange move, don't Hartlepool have one of the best keepers in league 2?

That is brilliant, Jesus. When there with Gateshead a few years back there was a wifey having a shower in her bathroom at half-time, unique half-time entertainment. The little side stand has an alleyway behind that runs between it and the houses & the locals nickname it dogs shit alley, it's like an obstacle course. Also a couple of years back when queuing up to go in there was some bloke in that house to the right of the turnstile sitting on his door step cutting his toenails, it sort of summed the place up. I'm all for character in grounds, and Kennilworth certainly has that

My favourite of the newer stadiums is Boavista's Estadio do Bessa in Porto. Steep stands with the upper tier hanging over the lower (all seats close to the pitch) & no corners which often makes a ground into a boring bowl. http://imgs.sapo.pt/images/DESPORTO/hp2/futebol/primeira_liga/estadio_bessa_geral_boavista.jpg http://www.footballgroundmap.com/data/photos/estadio-do-bessa2870l.jpg http://estadios.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/bessa03.jpg http://www.gambeta.cl/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/dobessa1.jpg Some more photos

The Gateshead shirts for this season:

Aye, lower level Scottish Premier is League 1/2 at best. They've been playing regular football so have improved as players I don't think it shows anything about our coaching set up. The main thing I notice at Gateshead about youngsters from premier league academies who play for us, is that in the majority it takes 2+ months of regular playing time for them to adapt to the physicality of senior football, and only then do they start to look like match winners. Obviously there are one or two exceptions to that rule, but it basically highlights a big problem with the physically weak nature of reserve team football. I don't agree with that daft B team idea, but something needs to be done to progress young homegrown talent through, or the future will only become bleaker for the England National Team.

July 7th. The conference don't have software to compile them, so they lock some bloke in a dark room and he takes 10 years to compile his masterpiece.

If anyone wants to go to the final to support Gateshead, tickets and travel details are on the Gateshead website - http://www.gateshead-fc.com/wembley

If anyone wants to come along and lend us your support for the 2nd leg at home on Sunday, tickets are now on sale at Gateshead stadium ticket office and online: Ticket office hours: Monday 28th April - Friday 2nd May 10:00am to 8:00pm, Saturday 3rd May - 10:00am to 6:00pm & Sunday 4th May - 10:00am until kick-off or Online - http://www.gateshead-fc.com/shop/index.php?route=product/category&path=59 (Tickets are not posted out and must be collected from the ticket office at the above times). ---- There is also the 1st leg away at Grimsby Town this Thursday, 7:45pm. Gateshead Supporters Club are running buses to this leaving Gateshead Stadium at 3pm, the bus is £15, deposits for the bus booking can be made at Gateshead Stadium Box Office or at the Grey Nags Head pub on Gateshead High Street. Alternatively you can contact the supporters club at [email protected] Tickets for the match at Grimsby can be pre-purchased on the Grimsby website for £1.50 cheaper - http://www.extra-gtfc.co.uk/acatalog/Grimsby-Town-v-TBC-(Visitors-Stand)-862.html Thanks for your support! More info on http://www.gateshead-fc.com

Yes, just print off the receipt and take it to the ticket office to the right of the stadium reception/main entrance (available from 6pm on Wed)

As mentioned above, the FA Cup 1st Round Replay at home to Oxford on Wednesday night is only £5 to get in if you buy your ticket before 7pm on Tuesday, hopefully there'll be a canny crowd:

The view's actually ok if you sit at the top/near the top of the Tyne and Wear stand, lower down and the athletics track plays a big part. It's certainly not perfect but closer than from level 7 at St James'. If you're at a loose end on Saturday, it's National Non-League Day (sounds a bit cheesy) and we're at home to Hereford United. Hopefully should be a good match and really kick start the season now we have a decent manager in (It's also £5 off the price of an adult ticket for NUFC season ticket holders).

Newcastle United FC and Gateshead FC Agree Fans Partnership Newcastle United have cemented their close relationship with neighbours Gateshead Football Club after agreeing a partnership which will make football even more affordable for fans across Tyneside. The clubs have teamed up to offer all Newcastle United members discounted entry to all of the Heed's home Football Conference Premier League fixtures during the 2013/14 season, with an adult and junior able to see 90 minutes of action for just £11 combined per match. On presenting a valid Newcastle United season ticket or membership card, Toon fans will be able to benefit from entry priced at just £9 for adults – a saving of £5 – while under-16s can already gain access for only £2 when accompanied by an adult. As part of the Conference Premier, the fifth tier of English football, Gateshead will be looking to mount a serious promotion push during the 2013/14 campaign but will face the challenge of a number of notable ex-Football League sides. Luton Town, Hereford United, Wrexham and Cambridge United will all be travelling to Gateshead International Stadium this season, with the prize of a return to the Football League promising some entertaining clashes. John Irving, financial director at Newcastle United, said: "We are delighted to offer our support to Gateshead. As well as being our closest neighbours, the clubs share a lot in common, particularly fans who would love to see both Tyneside clubs succeed. "Our partnership will give fans and their families even more affordable access to a high standard of football close to home so we hope as many people as possible can make it along to watch both clubs throughout next season any beyond." In addition to their close proximity, the clubs have a number of other close links, with current Newcastle assistant manager John Carver making in excess of 100 league appearances for Gateshead as a player and a number of current Magpies players, including Paul Dummett and James Tavernier, enjoying loan spells for the Conference club. And with Gateshead playing their home games just three miles from St. James' Park on the opposite side of the River Tyne, the Heed are now encouraging Toon fans to get behind their other local side and swell the numbers at the Conference Premier's largest stadium. Gateshead vice chairman, Brian Waites – the scheme's originator – said: "The cooperation and relationship between the clubs has flourished in recent years with the realisation that there are mutual benefits to be gained from working together. "Both clubs are committed to playing an important role in the community and this initiative is one more step in creating a sense of togetherness among people of Tyneside. As a lifelong fan of both clubs I am delighted to see this initiative get underway." For more information or to secure your Newcastle United membership, please visit www.nufc.co.uk/members. Season tickets also remain available at St. James' Park by calling 0844 372 1892 or visiting www.nufc.co.uk/tickets For more information about Gateshead FC, including fixtures, tickets and visiting Gateshead International Stadium, please visit www.gateshead-fc.com.

Are any of these academies actually producing many premier league standard young English players? If I was a parent of a talented young footballer, I'd rather send them to the academy of a Championship/League 1 team where they have a far better chance of being given a chance to break into the first team and then kick on from there. The number of local rejects from the likes of Newcastle, Sunderland etc plummeting down to local league football seems to have massively increased in the past 5 years. At one time you'd have released players going off to other football league clubs and making it there or even in the Conference, now they seem to even bypass that and in a lot of cases just bomb all the way down to the Northern League (which was almost unheard of 10 years ago). That's a 8 league drop! Something in the last 10 years has drastically gone wrong with the way North East players are produced (or not), if we want to see a new generation of Gazzas, Waddles, Beardsleys etc, then things have to change. I don't think this new academies setup is going to produce that, the u21/reserve team football seems to be physically weak also so as when the player does arrive at a point to be introduced to 1st team football, they don't appear to be anywhere near up to that transition.

Dear Newcastle United, Please parcel up Adam Campbell and send him over the Tyne for 6 months of Conference football to toughen him up (worked for Tav & Dummett). There's a good lad, Gateshead FC

Crazy and sad, it'll just erode what importance it has left, similar to the how the League Cup first went down the toilet then the FA Cup.

That's what happens when you start them off in the Conference at the Heed Can we have a few more, we're garbage at the minute. Pleased for the lad!

Our new home & away kits are out, not the best of picture, but the home kit looks nicer than last season. Guess we'll see in the flesh tomorrow night at home to Mansfield. Home http://www.gateshead-fc.com/content/Image/action/2012-2013/Luton_Town_2-2_Gateshead-Yemi_Odubade.jpg Away

Pleased for Tav, he was outstanding for us. Probably the best right back I've seen in a Heed shirt.

If anyone fancies a game tomorrow night, we take on Luton Town at home (7:45pm). It's probably our last chance to get in the play-offs. They have Alan Neilson in charge after sacking Gary Brabin following the defeat to York on Friday night. Gateshead v Luton - Tuesday 3rd April, 7:45pm at Gateshead Stadium