Gateshead hoping to spring FA Cup shock
GATESHEAD host their biggest FA Cup game for years tomorrow – the biggest, in fact, since the infamous South Shields defection.
The Tynesiders, now playing in the Conference, host League One Brentford in the first round at the International Stadium.
It is the first time Gateshead have had a home draw against league opposition since December 1975, when they drew 1-1 with Rochdale before losing the replay 3-1.
That Gateshead United side was made up of former South Shields players, with the Mariners having relocated along the road the previous year – the second time in history it had happened (the other case was back in 1930).
It left a bitter taste in the mouths of many Shields folk, but the two clubs now have their own identity, with Gateshead having made huge strides in recent seasons under the chairmanship of former Sunderland director Graham Wood and the management of ex-Newcastle United midfielder Ian Bogie.
Only last week they announced plans to move to a purpose-built 9,000-capacity new stadium in the town centre in 2011.
Wood, however, is disappointed that the tie was not allowed to be put back 24 hours.
He said: "We would have liked to have played the game on Sunday but it wasn't to be.
"Clashing with a Newcastle home game doesn't help. If they hadn't been playing, I'm sure we'd have added another 1,000 to the gate.
"Brentford say they need an extra day's preparation for their game against Millwall next Saturday, which is fair enough, it's a big game for them.
"But the gate money is shared in the FA Cup so they will suffer just as much as us. Hopefully, we'll still draw a good crowd."
Gateshead will have South Shields-born midfielder Phil Turnbull in their side as they look to build on a run of three wins in their last five games.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for South Shields
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -3 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South west
