Heed

If anyone fancies taking in a match tomorrow, we're at home to Grimsby Town. 3pm, Gateshead Stadium. Grimsby's joint manager Rob Scott lost it with the fans after their 2-1 home defeat to Darlington yesturday, so should be interesting.

The goals from last night can be found on the Gateshead FC facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/gatesheadfc

It would appear Newcastle are sending over a stronger than expected side tomorrow night. Should be a tough test, we held Sunderland reserves 0-0 on Saturday, but the Newcastle squad looks stronger. NUFC: 1. Steve Harper, 2. Ryan Taylor, 3. James Tavernier, 4. Mehdi Abeid, 5. Mike Williamson, 6. Paul Dummett, 7. Michael Richardson, 8. Alan Smith, 9. Nile Ranger, 10. Haris Vuckic, 11. Sammy Ameobi 12. Fraser Forster (GK), 13, Jeff Henderson, 14. Ryan Donaldson, 15. Phil Airey, 16. Greg McDermott, 17. Yven Moyo, 18. Patrick Nzuzi http://www.gateshead-fc.com/3505/newcastle-united-send-strong-squad-for-friendly Looking forward to seeing Tav play again

I think it basically comes down to perception. Darlo being local and until recently a league club, where as Gateshead haven't been a league club since 1960. Whilst we've made great strides over the last few years, we not as yet done anything of smack the local public in the face to sit up and take notice of us. Hopefully this season. Anyway, hopefully a big win for Newcastle tonight and a good season for both clubs either side of the Tyne

I'm canny surprised/disappointed that a Newcastle first team is being sent to Darlington, a fellow Conference club. The reserves have been sent to Conference clubs Gateshead and Luton over the last couple of years.

I think he's his nephew, but not 100% sure about that. Allan was permacrocked for us last season. Seemed to get injured in a light wind, so can't really judge how good he is. Huddersfield won 1-0, but I thought we did ok. Should've equalised in the 1st half when Odubade had his shot saved from close in. Turned into a bit of a typical pre-season affair second half, but it's early days.

Can't see that happening, his attitude was the other end of the spectrum from Tav. I guess playing International football at a young age has possibly done that to him. The Conference seems to get tougher every year. With Stockport and Lincoln joining the likes of Luton, Wrexham, York, Darlington etc, the type of money chucked about to try and get out is probably higher than League 2. Fleetwood (who're backed by some millionaire gas company owner) appear to be doing a Crawley Town and are chucking big money about on the best Conference Level players. I still think it's realistic with 2 or 3 quality additions that we could push up towards the play-offs. York and Darlington fell just short last year and we were in and around them until our players went on early holiday after missing out on the FA Trophy final at Wembley. It'll be a big season for Ian Bogie, when we're firing, we play some of the best passing football in this league (e.g. beating Luton 1-0 at home and Wrexham 7-2 away), but it was when 2 or 3 key players were missing that we fell below par. Hopefully a stronger squad with less passengers will see us kick on.

Our 2nd season as a pro-club and Bogie's 5th season as boss begins on Saturday with the first friendly against Lee Clark's Huddersfield Town at the International Stadium. July - 2011 Sat 09 Huddersfield Town - Home FR 15:00 Wed 13 Harrogate Town - Away FR 19:30 Sat 16 Carlisle United - Home FR 14:00 Tue 19 Kendal Town - Away FR 19:30 Thu 21 Workington - Away FR 19:00 Wed 27 Whitley Bay - Away FR 19:30 Sat 30 Sunderland XI - Home FR 15:00 August - 2011 Tue 02 Newcastle United XI - Home FR 19:30 Sat 06 Guiseley - Away FR 15:00 http://www.gateshead-fc.com/fixtures At the end of last season we released: Andy Ferrell (MID), Craig Nelthorpe (LW), Paul Heckinbottom (LB), Carl Jones (CD), Steven Baptist (CM), Jonny Allan (FWD), Richard Offiong (FWD), with Ashley Winn (MID) having been transfer listed. Ian Bogie has so far signed: Yemi Odubade (FWD) - Nigerian striker from Stevenage, was their leading scorer in their promotion campaign. Eddie Odhiambo (RB) - Tanzanian defender who was with Stevenage and signed from Newport County. Sam Rents (LB) - Defender from Crawley, was expected to start last season at Crawley as 1st choice left-back but smashed his cheek bone in pre-season. They then exercised their financial clout. Micky Cummins (MID) - Experienced midfielder signed from Grimsby Town. We made a failed bid for ex-Hartlepool midfielder Tommy Miller who signed for Huddersfield, so probably need to add another central midfielder, central defender and left winger to the squad for hopefully an attempt on the play-offs. This season we've moved training base from the back pitches at the International Stadium to the new Russell Foster Football Centre in Durham. The back pitches were getting ruined from over use with Gateshead College's Football Academy also using them. So the Gateshead squad so far looks like: 1. Tim Deasy (GK) - Former Stockport, Macclesfield and Barrow keeper. 2. Eddie Odhiambo (RB) - Tanzanian defender who was with Stevenage and signed from Newport County. 3. Sam Rents (LB) - Ex-Brighton left back from Crawley. 4. Kris Gate (MID) - Former Newcastle youth teamer 5. James Curtis (DEF) - Been at the club for nearly 10 years and still arguably looks the best player. 6. Ben Clark (DEF) - Former Hartlepool and Sunderland defender, and club captain. 7. Martin Brittain (RW) - Ex-Newcastle, Yeovil & Kidderminster. Lead the Conference in assists last season. 8. Phil Turnbull (MID) - Him and Gatey have been our leading midfield pair for the last 3 seasons. On his day one of the best passers in the league. Ex-Hartlepool. 9. Jon Shaw (FWD) - Former Sheff Wed striker signed from Mansfield. Formed a nice double act with Brittain. Brittain cross, Shaw headed goal. 10. Yemi Odubade (FWD) - Nigerian striker from Stevenage. Oba Martins type, hopefully with a better 1st touch though. 11. Micky Cummins (MID) - Experienced midfielder signed from Grimsby Town. 12. Nathan Fisher (FWD) - Ex-Boro youth, found his feet in the 2nd half of last season with some explosive performances. 13. Paul Farman (GK) - Former Newcastle youth teamer. 14. Craig Baxter (RB) - Into his 5th season at the club. Attacking right-back, ex-Newcastl youth. 15. Gary Mulligan (FWD) - Irish, old fashioned type forward. Started out at Wolves, more recently with Gillingham and Northampton. 16. Josh Gillies (RW/LW) - Young winger who came through Gateshead College's Football Academy, featured for Whitley Bay in their vase final. 17. James Marwood (RW) - Former Newcastle youth, lightening quick but needs to develop and end product. Hopefully it'll be an exciting season ahead.

Quite an immense structure, could've helped them close the gap on Real and Barca. http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/09ca0Fe0WG0fX/900x.jpg http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=508609&page=57

The right attitude is a big chunk of the battle for a young professional footballer to make it, and Tav certainly excelled in that department. Very quick and strong, a modern marauding right-back.

God knows how the Conference works, even being a fan of a Conference club doesn't help in working it out. I think the board is made up of a mixture of independents and people nominated/voted? from the member clubs. I'm not suggesting any wrong doing, but in the last 2 seasons the AGM Cup winners who were reprieved Forest Green and this season Southport have board members on the Conference board.

Never hurts having a member of your board on the Conference board either

Seems a bit odd. If he's on a 5 year deal, then why don't they send him out on-loan until christmas. If he does well elsewhere then you know he's either worth keeping or has at least upped his sale value, if he does badly then it's unlikely to have put much of a dent in his current value.

Pleased for Wimbledon, but sad to lose them from the Conference, a good away day. Where as Luton...

Tomi played for us (Gateshead) as a trialist striker in pre-season a couple of years back. He looked good in that match and we tried to sign him, but agents apparently got involved and he headed down south to sign for Forest Green Rovers. Think he scored one or two for them, and played in defensive midfield against us when they came up here. He was released at the end of the season with a load of players due to cost cutting, playing most of last season for Whitley Bay Reserves in the Northern Alliance League. As for Sammy. I've seen him play a few time for Newcastle Reserves, and he looked very Ameobi-esq. One moment of good skill, followed by two head scratching ones.

One of those strange players who has ability, but frustratingly rarely shows it. Good luck to the lad though, he was worth a gamble on a month to month deal. I'd take Armstrong back in an instant, shame he didn't want to commit to full time football.

I'd say the Evo-Stick Premier is probably the equivalent of the top 6 Northern League sides, so essentially the difference is that the better players can't plod through the lesser games and get by on ability alone. I hope the FA offer Whitley promotion and they take it, they certainly have nothing left to prove at that level.

Yeah, original colours the club played in when first a football league club. Nice to have it back as the away strip, wasn't really a fan of that blue away top we had.

Mockup of the new Heed kit for next season - http://www.gateshead-fc.com/3421/gateshead-fc-announce-two-year-kit-deal http://www.gateshead-fc.com/content/Image/replica/GFC_Strip_2011-2012_Vandanel_portrait.jpg Home: http://www.gateshead-fc.com/content/Image/replica/Gateshead_FC_Home_Shirt_Vandanel_2011_2012-mockup.jpg Away: http://www.gateshead-fc.com/content/Image/replica/Gateshead_FC_Away_Shirt_Vandanel_2011_2012-mockup.jpg

If anyone fancies a match on Saturday, Gateshead conclude our second season back in the Conference with a home game against Newport County. Kick-off is at 5:15pm, due to TV all conference matches must start on the final day at the same time (Tamworth v Forest Green Rovers - relegation battle being live on satellite channel Premier Sports TV). Not a bad season, it may've tailed away a bit towards the end but comfortably finishing mid-table, making the FA Cup 1st round and FA Trophy Semi-Final shows progress. Hopefully if the manager can add 4 or 5 quality players for next season we can kick-on towards the play-offs. Gateshead v Newport County - Tomorrow (Sat 30th April), Gateshead International Stadium, kick-off 5:15pm

From February, but the Santos away strip is nice http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5211/5445275921_92db818d43.jpg

If anyone fancies a match on Tuesday night, admission for tomorrow night's match - Gateshead v Eastbourne Borough has been reduced to £5.

I hope they do take promotion, it'd be nice to see more Northern League teams take the leap from the comfort zone. More North-East teams participating in the pyramid can only be a good thing for the region.

In that type of standing area, aren't the seats locked and only get unlocked for european matches where you aren't allowed standing areas? I also thought (in seat locked/standing mode) each seat was for 2 people, that's why they have 2 steps in front of 1 seat. So they can double the capacity of that area in standing configuration, which also allows ticket prices for that area to be reduced whilst not making a loss.

Shame he had to go back before we play Crawley at home on Saturday, especially as Newcastle aren't playing. Good luck to him hope he can push through to the Newcastle 1st teams as he's been top quality for us. Great attacking full-back with bags of pace and a great desire to do well.