2009/10 PREVIEW: GATESHEAD
As our preview of the teams the Town will face next season continues today we look at BSP new boys Gateshead who won promotion last season following a Conference North play-off victory.
Nickname: The Tynesiders
Manager: Ian Bogie
Ground: International Stadium
Last season: Conference North 2nd (play-off winners)
2008/09 average attendance: 680
2009/10 BSP title odds: 100/1
Previous meetings: The Hatters never met the old Gateshead that left the Football League in 1960 but did meet their predecessor South Shields twice in the FA Cup, losing the first in 1913/14 and winning the second in 1920/21 - both away.
Recent history:
After failing in their bid for re-election to the Football League in 1960 Gateshead played for several seasons in the Northern Premier League before financial problems meant the club went into liquidation in 1973.
The Tynesiders reformed in 1977 and, after moving to the newly built International Stadium, they won promotion to the Conference in 1983 where they spent two seasons before being relegated.
But they won the Northern Premier League again in 1990 to return to the Conference but were relegated again in 1998 after eight seasons in the non-league top flight.
A further relegation followed to the Division One of the Northern Premier League the good times soon returned to Gateshead when they were re-elected to the Premier Division.
In 2007/08 the Tynesiders beat Buxton in the Northern Premier League play-off final to secure a place in the Blue Square North and they followed that success up last season with another play-off final victory - against AFC Telford United - to seal a dramatic return to non-league elite.
FACT: Infamously celebrated as one of the worst players to play at Premier League level, striker Ali Dia left Southampton to join Gateshead in 1997, scoring twice in eight league appearances.
Official website: www.gateshead-fc.com
Previews so far - click the teams below:
Ebbsfleet United
Forest Green Rovers
