Students’ triumph is absolutely Fab-ulous
GATESHEAD College won the ECFA Premier League National Play-Off Final over a formidable FAB Academy side at St Andrew’s, home of Birmingham City.
The students, who study on the Gateshead Football Club Scholarship Programme, won the game after digging deep to recover from 2-0 down.
Lewis Dalton placed a strong strike from the 18-yard box into the bottom left-hand corner to ensure Gateshead went in at just 2-1 behind at half-time.
The Heed pinned back Buckinghamshire-based FAB Academy for the majority of the second half, resulting in an equaliser from Cameron Fenton with 15 minutes to play.
In the final 10 minutes Gateshead stepped up a gear, scoring a further two goals courtesy of Fenton and Callum Johnston to seal victory and claim the title of ECFA national champions.
Micky Cummings, first-team coach at Gateshead FC, is manager of the Gateshead FC Scholarship Programme team at the college.
He said: “This was a sensational performance by Gateshead College.
“I am immensely proud of what the lads have achieved.
“They represented the club, college and North East fantastically and did everyone proud.
“I could not have asked for more from them.”
Coach for the Gateshead side Ben Clark (pictured right) added: “We scored at the right times and the lads never let their heads drop, even when they were 2-0 down.
“It is a win and a national victory which is thoroughly deserved.
“They looked dangerous and played as a team - we were the better team in my opinion.”
Captain Ryan Lamb expressed how amazing the experience was to play at a Championship stadium.
He said: “Winning a national title with this group of lads will be something I hold on to for a very long time.”
The win was another highlight for Gateshead College’s Academy for Sport students - with a second national title in the bag for the football academy this season.
The women’s Football Academy had already won the ESFA National Premier Cup 2-1 at Meadow Lane, the home of Notts County, against SGS College of Bristol.
Anyone interested in studying sport at Gateshead College should attend an open event.
Details can be found at www.gateshead.ac.uk/events.
To find out more about the Gateshead Football Club Scholarship Programme at Gateshead College, email sport@gateshead.ac.uk or call 0191 490 2447.