PRESTON’S ALL SMILES WITH HEED
GATESHEAD star Jordan Preston is happy to be making up for lost time.
The former Blackburn Rovers forward endured a challenging time when he agreed to join the Heed after a spell at Guiseley in 2017.
A “frustrating” one-year spell at the International Stadium saw Preston struggle to find form and consistency before following former manager Neil Aspin to FC Halifax Town.
But the 24-year-old agreed to return to Tyneside last summer, and after initially struggling with injuries, has hit a purple patch of late as Mike Williamson’s new-look Heed look to make an immediate return to the National League.
Preston has become an integral part of the former Newcastle United defender’s plans as a run of just one defeat in 11 games has taken Gateshead into the National League North playoff places.
And the forward admitted that he is relieved to be showing the Heed Army what he can do in his second spell with the club.
“I think I was a bit hit and miss last time I was here and that was probably a bit frustrating for the manager and the supporters,” Preston told The NLP.
“I would have one or two games when I looked really good and then one or two when I just looked really average.
“That was the story of my first spell here and I left here with people frustrated with me and I was frustrated with myself, to be brutally honest.
“I am loving life at the moment after coming through a tough time with injuries at the start of the season. I am buzzing to be playing again and I am enjoying it.
“I still think we need to believe in ourselves a bit more because we have two or three gears that we haven’t found yet.
“There is a lot of belief in the squad and it’s a National League dressing room because I think there are a lot of players that could play in the league above.”
The story of Gateshead’s offfield struggles has been wellversed over the last year as the club came within 72 hours of going out of business. A supporter-led consortium rescued the club during the summer – but not before they were relegated into the second tier of nonleague football as a punishment for financial irregularities under previous owner Dr Ranjan Varghese.
Atmosphere
But now, with the dark days of the past behind them, there is a new spirit and belief around the club.
And Preston believes that the Heed players can feed off the good feeling around the place to secure an unexpected promotion at the end of the season.
“When I came back, there were still some faces from the first time, some really good guys and I am now playing football with a smile on my face. That’s the same with everyone around the club.
“There is a really good atmosphere around the place and the supporters are with us even more than they were two or three years ago.
“The group of lads in the changing room are enjoying being here and want this club to be successful.
“All of the setbacks they had last season on and off the pitch have just made people even more determined to help the club kick on.”