Get the lowdown on our next opponents: Gateshead.
The Opposition
Gateshead have endured a largely miserable campaign so far, but the return of Rob Elliot has led to a last gasp bid for survival, renewing the hopes of all on Tyneside after losing just one on their last seven games to close the gap to just three points.
The Heed have recently enjoyed perhaps their most successful spell in their history, winning promotion out of the National League North in 2022 before establishing themselves as one of the most promising sides in all of non-league, with their free-flowing style of football winning many plaudits under Mike Williamson, and led to their rapid rise up the fifth tier.
Indeed, just two years on from their title-winning campaign in the northern side of the sixth tier, the Heed found themselves challenging for promotion to League Two for the first time in their history, successfully navigating the blow of Williamson’s departure to MK Dons, with Elliot leading the club to a sixth place finish in 2023/24.
While they entered the play-offs as favourites, the Heed were unable to compete due to issues with their stadium and forced them into a premature exit, but they softened the blow with their first ever Isuzu FA Trophy title, overcoming Solihull Moors in the final. Elliot’s success subsequently saw him depart the club to join Crawley Town, but they once again managed to navigate this with Carl Magnay guiding them to another top half finish, though they were unable to crack the play-offs and left them to prepare for another year in the National League, one which so far, has proved to be fairly dismal.
After losing a host of key players, including long-serving captain Greg Olley, along with the likes of Luke Hannant, Regan Booty, Ben Worman, Robbie Tinkler, Jean Belehouan and Branden Horton, the Tynesiders seemingly got off to an indifferent start to the campaign, before slowly dropping to the foot of the table and with no hope of escape after a 16-game run without a single point, leading to the departure of Alun Armstrong in favour of Elliot’s return.
And while it took a handful of weeks to get going, wins over FC Halifax Town, Truro City, Braintree Town and Solihull Moors have seen them close the gap to just three points. The likes of Harry Chapman, Keaton Ward and Billy Chadwick have been central to their upturn in form, while the return of Louie Storey at the back and brought a slight improvement to their backline alongside the signings of Brad Nicholson and Ben Radfliffe, conceding 14 goals since the start of February compared to 20 in the eight games before that.
Elliot could yet secure his name as a Gateshead hero should he mastermind their great escape, with ten more cup finals to go for Heed.
The Manager
Rob Elliot
Rob Elliot returned to Gateshead in January after guiding them to within touching distance of League Two football for the first time in their history, and has gone on to restore faith on Tyneside after a disastrous campaign so far.
Hailing from Greenwich, South-East London, Elliot began his playing career as a goalkeeper with non-league side Erith Town, being spotted by Charlton Athletic when he was 17. He went on to appear over 100 times for the Addicks, spending seven years at The Valley in total, having become professional in 2004. Loans at Bishop’s Stortford, Notts County and Accrington Stanley saw him gain experience within the senior game, making his EFL debut for the Magpies, before being a part of the Stanley side that won promotion to the Football League as runaway champions, having replaced future Motherwell, Birmingham City, West Ham United and Middlesbrough goalkeeper Darren Randolph.
Elliot subsequently brought an end to his long-term stint with Charlton in 2011, beginning a new association with the North-East when he joined Newcastle United. He went on to spend nine years at St’ James Stadium, primarily being utilised as backup to the like of Tim Krul, Karl Darlow and Martin Dúbravka, but he did appear more than 50 times for the club in total, appearing in the Premier League and the UEFA Europa League.
As he entered his twilight years, Elliot briefly moved to Watford to serve as backup to Ben Foster and Daniel Bachmann, appearing just once in an EFL Cup defeat to Stoke City, before joining Gateshead as a Technical Director, whilst being registered as a first team player at the same time.
This soon brought a close to his playing days though, with Elliot expanding on his dual roles at the Gateshead International Stadium when he was appointed caretaker manager following Mike Williamson’s departure to MK Dons. Building his predecessor’s success, he went on to lead the Heed to a sixth-place finish and the Isuzu FA Trophy title, beating Solihull Moors in the final to lift the trophy for the first time in their history.
Furthermore, having come within touching distance of a place in League Two, only being denied a shot at the play-offs due to their stadium, he was appointed as their permanent boss ahead of the 2024/25 season, though his performance in the dugout saw him return south after over a decade, being appointed at League Two side Crawley Town.
He was unable to match his previous heights during his stint in Sussex though, being dismissed after just six months at Broadfield Road, before returning to management after almost a year away to rejoin Gateshead, and has recently led to a run of one defeat from their last seven, renewing their hopes of survival heading into the latter stages of the campaign.
One to Watch
Harry Chapman
Hartlepool-born midfielder Harry Chapman has hit form in recent weeks, playing a pivotal role in Gateshead’s recent upturn in results that has seen the Heed close the gap to safety.
The 28-year old began his career in the Middlesbrough academy, spending ten years in the youth setup at the Riverside Stadium before gaining experience out on loan with Barnsley, Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers. His maiden campaign in senior football with the Tykes brought plenty of highlights for the midfielder, making his EFL debut as well as scoring his first goal, before ending the season by featuring in the EFL Trophy Final, before contributing to the side that won promotion to the Championship via the play-offs.
His further loans subsequently saw him gain further opportunities at third tier level, before ending a 14-year stay on Teesside with a permanent switch to Blackburn, having joined them on loan the previous year. He played 15 times for the Blue and Whites, ending a three-year spell with loan moves to Shrewsbury Town and Burton Albion, before opting to join Bradford City in 2022. He appeared almost 50 times for Yorkshire-side, but opted to drop into the National League after two years with a switch to Barnet, helping the Bees win promotion with a record-breaking points tally last term which saw them named champions.
Despite this, he exited The Hive after just a single season to remain in the fifth tier, joining Gateshead last summer, where he is currently the club’s top scorer with seven goals, bettered only by Kain Adom’s ten, who joined Burton Albion earlier this season.
Recent Form
Southend United 1-1 Gateshead
Solihull Moors 1-2 Gateshead
Gateshead 1-0 Braintree Town
Gateshead 0-2 Forest Green Rovers
Gateshead 4-4 Morecambe
Truro City 1-2 Gateshead
Last Time Out
Despite a wonder goal from Andrew Dallas, Southend United were held to a 1-1 draw by Gateshead at Roots Hall, who continue their resurgence under Rob Elliot.
A piece of genius Dallas got the Shrimpers off the mark, with the Scotsman racing onto Harry Boyes’ lofted through ball before spotting Adam Desbois off his line and lifting the ball over the keeper’s head and into the net.
The lead really should have been doubled just before the half-hour mark, with a glorious chance for Charley Kendall before denied by a recovery challenge from Brad Nicholson, before Oli Coker had two good opportunities in the space of three minutes.
The Heed were still very much in the match, and Sam Bowen reminded the Shrimpers of this when he let fly from 20 yards out, forcing Andeng Ndi into a good stop, which from the resulting corner, Nicholson looped a header over Andeng Ndi and beyond Gus Scott-Morriss at the back post to draw the visitors level, and in the end secured a point in Essex after a quiet second half.
