Non-league football

[Paullow]

Just back from the Blue Star match. Blyth probably the better side in the first half, but no massive chances for either. Ex Newcastle United legend Michael Ndiweni put Blue Star ahead after 51 mins with a good strike and it looked like they would see it out. He then missed a great chance with a header at the end to seal it, and about a minute later Blyth broke, won and scored a pen and after 6 mins of injury time, it went to pens. Both scored their first 2, but Blue Star missed their next two (Ndiweni saved, and then the next blazed over) so Blyth advance.

 

Disappointing as Blue Star are probably better placed to make a fist of things at the higher level, but there will be the Blyth derbies next year, as Jack says, which is crazy when you consider one is one of the most famous non league sides in the country and the other were in the 3rd tier of the Northern Alliance league in 2018, so in 7 years they have gone from the 13th tier to the 8th tier, while Spartans have had back to back relegations.

 

I know Blue Star is a bit of an iconic name, and were the strips Newcastle United used in the early days of the Premier League, but there does seem heavy marketing toward the West End - it was mentioned so many times in that earlier interview with the chairman, and there was a massive banner before the game on the pitch saying something like 'Welcome to' or 'This is the West End', so it might be a good marketing opportunity for them to change their name to Newcastle West End, if possible, obviously linking to the name before Newcastle United, but further making it clear they are the team of that area.

 

Just saw there was 2,151 there tonight which is a great crowd.

 

 

Edited Friday at 21:46 by Paullow

[Optimistic Nut]

Going along to Dunston tomorrow. 

[Paullow]

I'm going to do either Dunston or Jarrow, both 3pm kick offs, probably leaning towards Dunston with it being a couple of leagues higher.

[Paully]

If I wasn’t off to Brighton this morning then my fix would be the over 40s final between Hebburn and Hartlepool at North Shields’ ground at 10.30 followed by the promotion play-off final at Perth Green between Jarra and Thornaby at 3!

[OpenC]

Great second half at Dunston after a pretty forgettable first. 0-0 after 90, opposition goal ruled out

[RobS]

Dunston lost 4-5 on pens sadly

[OpenC]

Just going through my pictures now, was a great game for the neutral (after the cagey first half anyway).

[OpenC]

This is how close they got to getting another kick

 

[CoreOfNUFC]

All eyes on Gateshead now  

[Scoreboard82]

On 30/04/2025 at 15:01, Paully said:

Just heard Stockton might be in a bit trouble for the play-offs - nightmare if true 

Officially booted out and Guisely reinstated. Took them long enough to decide that mind. Mate of mine who follows Worksop, Guisely will now play Worksop in tomorrow's final, tells me they didn't finalise their opponents until 11.45pm last night. All tickets were already sold etc. Not the ideal pre match preparation when you don't know your opponents.

[Pilko]

From what I saw about the Stockton thing, the FA portal gave them the wrong information about when a player's ban was due to kick in, which they duly followed and then were told he was ineligible. Unless I'm reading the situation wrong it seems really unfair.

[Pilko]

Gateshead drew 0-0, what an absolute shit the bed that was from a few months ago. Such a pity.

[Paullow]

Aye, was just looking to see if I could find historical tables from February, but that 11 vs 11 site only has the top 4 tables, but 2W and 3D from their last 11 games, only 9 points, is abysmal.

[Dr.Spaceman]

Gateshead are stuck with losing their best players every season, it's a pretty tough ask year in year out.

[joeyt]

10 minutes ago, Pilko said:

Gateshead drew 0-0, what an absolute shit the bed that was from a few months ago. Such a pity.

 

Genuinely the worst football match I've ever been to

[54]

Here's hoping its York that wins the play-off. 

[Pilko]

39 minutes ago, Dr.Spaceman said:

Gateshead are stuck with losing their best players every season, it's a pretty tough ask year in year out.

 

Oseni being bought by St Mirren who have barely played him was a big blow. Churning their manager again can't have helped either.

 

Wonder if they try and get the band back together - Willo and/or Elliot and retain Magnay as a coach again?

[Optimistic Nut]

If they can get one of the last two managers back, and a few of the players they took to MK Dons, Crawley & Carlisle who didn't make the step up back as well, they'll have a chance. Not sure they really even want to go up. 

[Stifler]

22 minutes ago, Optimistic Nut said:

If they can get one of the last two managers back, and a few of the players they took to MK Dons, Crawley & Carlisle who didn't make the step up back as well, they'll have a chance. Not sure they really even want to go up. 

I think if they go up, their stadium will show them up.

They already suffer from not as many fans going because of the stadium, and also because SJP is in full view behind one of their goals, and the SOL is just a little further down the road at the other end.

They just simply don’t have the money to build a new stadium, and right now they can’t look at their fanbase and say the demand is there.

[Dr.Spaceman]

I don't think Newcastle and Sunderland are the reason why Gateshead have much lower attendances than they should have, at all. It's purely down to the stadium for me. I'd love a ball playing lower league side with a nice little compact stadium on my doorstep. Instead we've got one of the shittest matchday experiences in the entire UK. The concourse is ridiculous, it's often freezing, windy as fuck and there's absolutely bugger all next to the ground. On a cold week night you genuinely couldn't pay me these days, and I had a season ticket there just 10 years ago.

 

The turnover of players doesn't help either, although that seemed to have slowed for a few years it appears to be back with a bang.