When I am back in the NE of England I like to catch up on the football.
Gateshead Football Club have always lived in the shadow of their “big brother” ,Newcastle United, across the River Tyne. Whilst the Magpies can attract crowds of up to 52,000 the Tynesiders on the south bank of the River Tyne struggle pull in 700 fans. However from time to time “The Heed” can attract crowds of over 1000 and today was one of those occasions for a game against Luton Town. The attendance included a sizable contingent from Hertfordshire.
Luton Town, former football league cup winners and FA Cup finalists, have fallen from grace and have lost their football league status which they are trying to regain this season. Gateshead by contrast , although having had football league status in the 1950’s, have just recently gained promotion to the conference and are struggling at the higher level.
The two teams lined up on a crisp January afternoon. Gateshead bedecked in white shirts black shorts and socks and Luton in bright orange shirts white shorts and socks and with the Easy Jet logo emblazoned across it, the budget airline is based in Luton. Both teams strips prompt one wag in the crowd to shout “This is reminiscent of West Germany v Holland circa ’74”. Referring the World Cup final of 1974 which included such greats as Farnz Beckenbaur and Johan Cruff. Another fan shouts in response “Aye, if you close your eyes!”.
The game started with Gateshead looking sharp and striking the bar in the early encounters. The atmosphere inside the ground was good, in a stadium ,which in my opinion, wasn’t built for football. Gateshead use the towns international athletics stadium for home games, but hope to have their own purpose built ground constructed close to the town centre by 2012. The Gateshead fans, “The Heed Army” have a great array of songs. My own personal favourite to the tune of the Sex Pistols Anarchy in the UK, with the great line “I wannabe Heed Army...”. The “craic” amongst the fans was also excellent very different from the atmosphere at some of the higher standard games that I have attended. You get the feeling nobody takes themselves too serious here.
Halfway through the first half we get the first goal and it goes to the visitors. The goal is one of the most bizarre that I have ever seen in over 30 years of watching football. A mix up in the Gateshead penalty area leads to the ball being poked back to the Gateshead goalkeeper who somehow lets the ball bobble through his legs and trickle over the line. The first half peters out and Luton go into the dressing room one up.
The second half sees a Gateshead full blooded assault on the Luton goal but all to no avail as the Hatters hold on to collect three valuable points in their promotion push. Gateshead on the other hand end the day languishing in the bottom three with a lot of work to do if they are to retain their Conference status.
Tony Higgins (506 words – January 2010)
