Gateshead

Seen the plans before and it looks very smart A lot more compact for Gateshead, hate the site of empty seats.
Hope Blyth get promoted, but then again would also like to see Gateshead gain football league status... chances are neither will happen :\

 

Nah, I reckon Gateshead will be in the league before 2015, Graham Wood seems to really have his head screwed on properly and has a decent amount of money to back the club with. I remember reading an honest interview with him (can't find it) where he states his ambition is to turn Gateshead into a League 1 outfit but that he doesn't think the area could support a club of bigger stature due to the proximity with Newcastle.

I think Gateshead have the potential to be genuine rivals to Hartlepool in time, bouncing between League 2 and 1. That'd be fantastic for the region, the important thing is to start getting younger fans involved NOW!

Blyth have limited finances and though I think we might be able to sneak into the Conference via the play-offs (not this season sadly) I can't see the money to keep us there, we had to release a number of playing staff earlier this season and our cup money has all been spent improving the ground.

I'm keeping my eye on Bedlington, though they've not been taken over per se, Mr Rich has promised to 'match the club's ambition' and the chairman has said he dreams of taking Bedlington to League 2. Not sure whether that's achievable but another NE club in the higher reaches of the non-league pyramid would be fantastic!

 

please log in to view this image

That's a plan of it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet.

 

I know it's only a mockup but it looks fantastic! What kind of attendances are the Heed getting since promotion?

 

Would love this, but if they climbed too high up the league I would regard them as bigger rivals to Newcastle and wouldn't want to see myself as a glory hunter. But would be great for the North East and Cumbria to have NUFC, SAFC, Smogs, Hartlepool, Darlo, Gateshead and Carlisle all in the football league at some point.

 

I know
Generally around the 1000 mark but for bigger games like Luton/Darlo they've got over 2000.

Supposedly a 9k capacity the new one

 

Gateshead, Darlington and Hartlepool used to think of their games as derby games and even Carlisle did when they were all in the old Third Division North.

 

I hear Darlington and Hartlepool hate each other quite a bit too. Don't think it'll be too long before they play again, Darlo look out of place in the conference in terms of their stadium and in some sense their squad although they let a few players leave when they got relegated I believe.

 

I think Whitley Bay are due some recognition if they win the FA Vase three times in a row. Nice town and good location for the stadium but it seriously needs a lick of paint!

I'm not sure whether this is NE pride or me just bored of playing out-of-towners week in week out.

Darlington got themself into a big mess moving into that big stadium of theirs, it's a massive shame that the money wasn't put to better use.

 

Would quite like to see Whitley Bay play, heard it's nice across there but I'm afraid I may bump into Bartons Tash

Yeah, sad to see them go into administration under circumstances of their own making. The upscale in stadium seemed quite unnecessary :\

 

Gateshead seem to be doing it just about right, room to grow but not over the top. It looks nice enough to host non-football events too which is always useful for extra club income.

Darlington built a Championship-quality ground whilst struggling in League 2. Not a smart move at all.

Mind you, I think Darlington fans must take some blame, they really turned their backs on the club when they were needed, attendances dropped and hardly anyone came to the last gasp fundraising match.

Similarly I'm not quite sure what's going on at Hartlepool, they've got a canny side, don't look too far off challenging for promotion yet their attendances stink!

It's strange because the North East's non-league clubs are amongst the best supported!

 

Could this be BT?

 

I'm not even going to ask how and why you have that photo!

 

True, agree with all that. Not a big fan on the Darlington supporters after encountering a few around the ground. Suppose can't really base my opinions on the minority that I met, but you pointed out the bigger picture there.

Hartlepool are pushing for play-off spot at the moment I think, but their crowds are of similar size to Gatesheads?!

Think it's a bit too old to be RBT :L Ask him his seat details?

Anyway, I'm shattered now so off to bed to try and get rid of this bastard throat infection
Night all.

 

G'night.

 

Tried asking him but he wouldn't be tempted. Know he's in the GG though!

 

Night TW.

 

Do you remember who was sitting next to him? A tall lass by any chance?

 

No he goes on his own, sits beside two brothers just in front of me.

 

Where abouts is this? Behind the goal?