Brack of the Net!!!!!!!!!!

As reported on the Official Club Site, Gateshead have signed left back John Brackstone.

The former Darlington and Hartlepool United player joins the Heed After being one of nine first team players to have been released by Darlington last week.

John, a Hartlepool lad will join former team mates Carl Jones and Phil Turnbull at Gateshead having all been on the book at Hartlepool United.

Ian Bogie seems to have wasted no time in building his team for next season with Phil Cave not signing a new contract, the signing of Brackstone show that progress stands still for no man. Cave has been reported to be trying to go pro with Scottish side Livingston.

More signings look to be unveiled in the coming weeks, players with football league experience seem to be the target for the Tynesiders as they push to have another great season, this time in the Conf North.

New Member of the Heed Army Ranks

Derek Bell has been added to the ranks of the Heed Army, for his great Service to GFC over the Years as Player/Manager/Chairman.

Derek was the driving force in saving Gateshead football Club not so many years ago.

So its a pleasure to add Mr Bell to the ranks of the Heed Army, As Captain D.Bell

Player Review: Bowey

Steve Bowey, As Gateshead’s Captain Steve added the zip and pip to the Heed midfield that has been lacking over the last few season.
His second stint at the club rekindled memory’s of yesteryear, seeing the bleach blonde hair flying through on goal.

Steve managed to lead the team by example this season scoring 8 times, much to the joy of the Heed Army. Although there had been fears of not seeing the Bowey of old when he returned, he was first man on the pitch and the last man off. At the age of 33 he showed how it was done and done properly.

As with the last review it seem we have found out that like Vice Captain Salvin, Bowey may have played his last game for the club. It would appear Bowey, who is in the latter stages of his career is being offered less in his contract and Bowey would have liked more.
The Heed Army Blog would like to wish Steve Bowey all the best for the future and thank him for his efforts at the club.

Season rating 8 out of 10.

Player Review: Salvin

Steve Salvin, the powerhouse behind Gateshead’s promotion. His drive and relentless pursuit of the ball made watching him a true delight. He wears he heart on his sleeve and just as proudly the Captains armband in his vice captain roll when Bowey was not in the team.

Steve played much of the season in defence after the pre-season injury to Steve Baker. Salvin slotted in with Curtis to form a great partnership, there build up play from the back must be reasonable for at least 30% of Gateshead goals this season. While talking about goal Steve managed to score nine goals this term, no mean feat for a player playing out of position. Sadly news has broke that Steve has handed in a transfer request, his work commitments has become larger and sadly football is having to take the back seat in his life. This is a great shame as Steve would have taken the step up to the Conf North easily.
The Heed Army Blog Wishes Steve all the best and hope to see him Ina Heed shirt in the future!

Season Rating 9 out of 10.

Player review: Jones and Turnbull

The two young lads came in and set there stall out, they didn’t get pushed off the ball, they dictated the ball.

Carl Jones at the back gave a master class in defending from his very first game, his presence alongside the mighty Curtis gave the Heed at formidable back line.
Jones has been rocked by injury’s in the past and have hampered his football league career, being stuck down twice as he was Gaining first team football at York City and Hartlepool United. But since pulling on the colours of GFC Jones has stood tall and bounced out of every tackle, much to the delight of jones himself.

Phil Turnbull also had a impact in midfield, giving fresh options in the push for the play-offs and the promotion that followed.
Turnbull’s style of play is that of Heed Army legend Paul Proudlock, his vision is like that of a hawk, picking out team mates from 2 yards to 42 yards with pin point passes.
Phil like Jones also played for York City and Hartlepool united, but has really found his feet since he arrived at Gateshead.
Both players are young and very exciting prospects, thank go they play for the Heed!!!

Season ratings for both players 8 out of 10.

Player Review: Curtis

James Curtis has stuck with the Heed through thick and thin since he joined the club.
If any a players deserved to be in a promotion team it was James, from his bad jokes to fantastic tackles on the pitch he is surely the first name on Ian Bogies team sheet as he is a all round team player.

He missed a section of the season through injury, and was a massive miss in Gateshead defence. His partnerships he formed with both Steve Salvin and Carl Jones at the back were so impressive, he knew where every player was on the pitch at all times. James has had many offers to move away from the Heed to play at a much higher level, but he has gave his all for the club and fans. For this the Heed Army are truly grateful, and look forward to see James lead from the back as ever next season.

Season Rating 8 out of 10.

Player Review: Cave

Phil Cave, another product of the Newcastle United youth system joined the Tynesiders last summer after being linked with several league clubs.

Many Gateshead fans can be forgiving for first thinking that Cave, with his slight frame would be a boy playing a mans game. But from the very first minute to the last minutes Phil battled and controlled the ball in every match this year.
Phil also found the back of the net 11 times this season, a fantastic achievement for his first year at the club and extra special from the left back position.
Although Phil has done so much in his first season , you just know there is a lot more to come from this exciting local lad.

Season Rating 8 out of 10.

Player Review: Baxter

Craig Baxter has made the right back position his own over the past two years. His pace, tackles and crosses into the box are so important to the teams over all play.
The former Newcastle United youth player is a cut above and will sure look to good for the Conf North as he did for the UniBond.

Craig managed to find the back of the net three times this season, but it was his assists that must have been in double figures that really made him stand out.

Craig plays to a very high standard each game and very rarely has a bad performance, it’s a testament to his all round game, it little wonder why he has become a fan favourite.

Season Rating 8 out of 10.

Player Review: Musselwhite

Paul Musselwhite took a few games to settle in when he first joined the team, but soon became the lynch pin in the Heed’s defence.
There was a few worry’s of Paul’s age maybe stopping him from moving freely about the box and getting down to stop shots. But the 39 year old turned back the years while in a Heed shirt, his command and presence in the box was great to witness.
Paul kept 10 clean sheets in the last 13 games of the season, a fantastic achievement no matter level of football.
Although Mussa had a great end to the season will he be here next season?? Only time will tell.

The Conf North does allow 5 substitutes, maybe the heed will retain Paul for next year as cover or in competition with another keeper.
Musselwhite’s experience is very had to come by and has been invaluable to the Tynesiders, who knows could Paul become part of the backroom staff as a player coach next year?

Season Rating 9 out of 10.

The Curtain Falls

The curtain has fallen on the season, and what a season its been!

One Cup Final and promotion to the Blue Square Conference North has left the Heed Army looking forward to the summer with excitement for the new season that’s round the corner.

Its safe to say we will see some face’s leave the Tynesiders in the summer and we will see new faces arrive. This years team has been one of the best for over 14 years and very much deserved the promotion and accolade that comes their way.

Ian Bogie and his assistant Jeff Wrightson have to take a lot of the praise for the success that the Tynesiders have had. The pair who were childhood friends have transformed Gateshead with the professional touch the team needed.

While we are still talking about praise, Chairman Graham Wood and Directors Brian Waites and Derek Bell have been the men who have master minded the rise of GFC off the pitch. Over the space of two and a half years the difference between GFC of 2005 and GFC of 2008 is immense.
You only have to look at the club site to see the number of sponsors and companies working with Gateshead.
As a result the club as a hole has raised higher than most Heed fans could have dreamed, not only Have we gained promotion to the Conf North, but the fan base and interest in all thing Heed is on the rise, Thanks to these three man and the unsung hero’s behind the sense!!

Where does the Blog go from here I here you ask?

Well we go with a big Thank You to all the regular readers and new readers that have visited.
We have reached 28,000 visitors in just two and a half years, these figures are a welcome shock as the Blog did not expect to get more than a couple of hundred visits.
Hopefully the Heed Army Blog can bring you more news in our own unique style of reporting the HEED to you.

HEED ARMY!!!!

Sunderland Reserves 2 Gateshead 0 Durham Cup Final

As the sun set over Wearside, the cry’s of HEED ARMY echoed around the Stadium of Light as a 800 strong Following for Gateshead geared up for the Durham Cup Final.

The opening exchanges were cagey and tentative to say the least with Heed players miss placing the odd pass and loosing footing on the slick premiership pitch.

15 minutes in and Sunderland Reserves took the lead after Billy Dennehy found the back of the Tynesiders net. Paul Musselwhite could do little to stop the goal.


The rest of the first half was in Sunderland’s control with the odd Gateshead attack being easily broken down on the edge of the Sunderland box.

After half time Gateshead stepped up a gear and did push forward with more purpose, but a Missed Steve Salvin Tackle let Sunderland straight through on the Heed goal for David Dowson to double the Black Cats lead.
Gateshead had a few chances in front of goal as the second half went on, with the best chance falling to Davie Southern how seemed to change his mind while one on one with the keeper. He ended up Passing a half paced ball instead of pulling the trigger, Sunderland’s Carson watched the ball trickle past for a goal kick.

In all it was a good night and the travelling Heed Army made them selves heard all over the Premiership stadium. It would have been the icing on the cake for what has already been a fantastic season seeing the Tynesiders promoted.

Line Up and ratings:

Musselwhite 7
Unfortunate to let two in.

Baxter 6
Well marked all game.

Cave 7
Got stuck in.

Curtis 7
Few slips, but turned it around.

Salvin 6
Looked a midfielder in defence in this game.

Phillips 6
His pace was not enough to beat the Sunderland defence.

Harwood 7
Final third let him down

Bowey 8
Was in the mix from start to finish
HEED ARMY BLOG MAN OF THE MATCH

Gate 6
Another player not at the races, but still battled.

Southern 6
Lack of pace showed against the full timers

Armstrong 6
Had one half chance.

Subs:

Talbot 6
Good to see him play in the final

Thompson 6
Nearly pulled off the cheekiest flick

Hutchinson 7
Added some bite in midfield.

The ratings may seem harsh, on what has been a fantastic team this year, but the Durham Cup final was just that game to far against a professional Sunderland side.

No matter what the result was gonna be in the Cup Final, the Heed Army's pride was never going to be dented on this great season and great team!

Durham Cup Final Preview

With hangovers and bad heads still fresh in the memory from Saturdays

celebrations, we now turn to concentrate on the Durham Cup Final at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland Reserves stand in the way of the Heed Army collecting their second piece of silverware. Sunderland Reserves are one of the better academy sides in the country and will be tough opposition for the Tynesiders.

Paul Brayson (pictured Below) and Carl Jones are sadly unavailable for this match, as they didn’t play in the earlier rounds of the competition. Steve Salvin will fill in for Jones and Southern and Armstrong will fill in for the missing Brayson.

The Heed Army will be in fine voice and looking to make Wearside Know he Tynesiders are in town!!!

Gateshead 2 Buxton 0 (Play-Off Final)

All the hard work paid off for the Tynesiders on Saturday afternoon when they won promotion to the Conference North.

Ian Bogie’s had the better of the play in the first half, yet Buxton kept every man behind the ball to try and stop Gateshead passing game.
Buxton came with the plan to stop the Heed midfield creating opportunity’s in and around the Buxton box.

Davie Southern had the best chance for opening the scoring in the first half with a header at the far post, only to put it wide.

The Second half came to life just 4 minutes in, when Kris Gate beat 3 players with a shimmy, a shammy and another shimmy, then placed the ball in the back of the net to send the 1.400 strong crowd into a uproar with celebration.

With hearts pounding Gateshead went in search of another goal to killer the game off, Paul Brayson had a great chance to double the lead only to sky the ball over the bar.

Brayson will always get chance’s and his next chance was the one to clinch promotion to the Conference North. On 79 minutes Brayson latched onto a through ball and left the Buxton defenders in his wake as he bared down on the keeper, and then gave a cheeky little lob to send the ball into the back of the net.

The party started and the Heed Army Gave there all for the lads!!!

The hole Team are the Heed Army Blog man of the match as they worked hard together!!

In The Chairman's words

The Heed Army Blog has been lucky enough to be able to get a message from GFC Chairman Graham Wood a head of Saturdays Play-Off Final.

Here is Graham Message:

The blogmaster has asked me if I'd like to send a message to the fans ahead of Saturday's all important play-off final and I'm most grateful for the opportunity.

Firstly, my heartfelt thanks to you all for your magnificent support throughout the season, with special thanks for last Tuesday night, when, in keeping with the team's performance, you were just awesome. As Ian Bogie has already commented, it was as good as having an extra man.

As to Saturday's game, as you would expect, nobody is taking anything for granted. Buxton wouldn't be in the final of the play-off's if they weren't a good side and they'll be eager to show their fans and themselves that they're a lot better than the 0-9 aggregate which resulted from our two recent meetings would suggest.

I have to say that Gateshead are currently playing with the kind of self belief that I've seldom seen and anything other than a Gateshead victory is hard to predict, but we must fully recognise that, as with every game we play, winning doesn't come by right.

Whatever happens on Saturday, one thing is sure. This club is on the up and you are playing a vital role in the process.

I know I don't need to ask you to get behind the team on Saturday, that's an absolute given. Enjoy the day and thank you again.

Onward and upward.

Graham

The Heed Army Blog would like to take this time to say a big thank you to Graham Wood, not only for his message today, but for his passion and drive that has seen Gateshead Football Club breathe with life over the past few seasons.

Not only would the Blog like to thank Graham, we would like to say big thank you and well done to the whole team that is GFC:

Brian Waites
Derek Bell
Margaret Lord
Gary Davidson
Ronny Spraggon
Laurence Dinning
Dick Davies
Stehpen Gilhespy