Heed cut-price deal looks just the ticket
GATESHEAD kick off their ‘professional football for a tenner’ scheme against Eastleigh at the International Stadium tomorrow.
Adult prices have been slashed by a third to just £10, making entry to Gateshead games the cheapest in the top five divisions of English football.
Under-18s and students will pay £5 while under-12s gain free entry as the club look to boost attendances at the International Stadium.
With the Heed up to sixth in the Vanarama National League and three wins from the last four, there is a feel-good factor at the International Stadium.
The new three-tier admission system is expected to continue for the rest of the season, the next two games both on home soil.
After the visit of 14thplaced Eastleigh, unbeaten in four, Gateshead host bottom-four side Dagenham and Redbridge next weekend.
It is a chance to consolidate their place in the top six after back-toback victories at Chesterfield and Barrow.
For left-back Scott Barrow it will be a first opportunity to lead the side out on home turf after he missed the start of the season through injury.
Barrow said: “To be named Gateshead captain in the summer was a great honour, though I did not expect to wait so long before playing.
“Apart from a one-off I have not been a captain of any of the clubs I have been at, so to lead this group of lads will be a bit special.
“It was a fantastic result at Barrow on Tuesday.
“They are a hard team to play against and it was a different game to what we had at Chesterfield.
“We had to keep our shape and defend well and we capitalised when we had our chances.
There are two sides to our game, which we showed in those 3-0 and 2-1 wins.
“We can get the ball down and play and we can be hard to beat and defensively solid - and that is what we were in midweek.
“The lads were superb and held firm.”
He added: “Confidence is high now and we need to get that winning feeling back at the International Stadium.
“We keep proving the doubters wrong. People wrote us off at the start of the season but we always believed in ourselves.
“I firmly believe we can be up there when it counts at the end of the season, we just need to keep working hard.”
On-loan Boro striker Luke Armstrong (above) is set to miss a seventh game through injury, manager Steve Watson otherwise selecting from a full squad. Ex-Newcastle United defender Mike Williamson is likely to return in defence.
South Shields. Town. (3.00 unless stated) Gateshead v Eastleigh, Hartlepool United v Aldershot Town.
Blyth Spartans v AFC Telford United, Darlington v Stockport County, Hereford v Spennymoor Town. Warrington Town v Spalding United v Morpeth
Dunston UTS v Consett, Guisborough Town v Stockton Town, Newcastle Benfield v Ashington, North Shields v Ryhope CW, Penrith v Whickham, Sunderland RCA v Shildon, West Auckland Town v Hebburn Town, Whitley Bay v Bishop Auckland.
Bedlington Terriers v Easington Colliery, Birtley Town v Washington, Brandon United v Willington, Chester-le-Street v Thornaby, Durham City v Billingham Town, Esh Winning v Heaton Stannington, Jarrow v Billingham Synthonia, Northallerton Town v Crook Town, Redcar Athletic v Ryton & Crawcrook Albion, West Allotment Celtic v Tow Law Town.
AFC Killingworth v Wallington, Gateshead Rutherford v FC United of Newcastle, Newcastle Blue Star v Alnwick Town, Newcastle Chemfica v Whitley Bay A, Newcastle University v Seaton Delaval, Percy Main Amateurs v AFC New Fordley, Ponteland United v North Shields Athletic, Shankhouse v Gateshead A.
Bedlington v Wallsend Community, Felling Magpies v Cullercoats, Forest Hall v Blyth Spartans Reserves, Gosforth Bohemians v Winlaton Vulcans, Hebburn Town U23s v Seaton Burn, Red Row Welfare v Hexham, Wallsend Boys Club v Blyth Town.
Burradon v Whitley Sporting Club, Coundon and Leeholme v Blyth FC, Cramlington Town v Gateshead Redheugh, Ellington v Jesmond, Seghill v Rothbury, Stobswood Welfare v Cramlington United, Whitburn and Cleadon v Willington Quay Saints, Wideopen and District v Spittal Rovers.
Windscale v Farringdon Detached (2.30pm).
Annfield Plain FC v Coxhoe Athletic FC, Boldon CA FC v Horden Community Welfare FC, Gateshead Leam Rangers FC v Hartlepool FC, Hebburn Town Reserves FC v Darlington Town FC, Richmond Town FC v West Auckland Tunns FC, Sunderland West End FC v Darlington RA FC, Wolviston FC v Silksworth Colliery Welfare FC (all 2.30).