Back on my tour of north-east non league grounds and today I’ve eschewed a visit to the Ford Quarry hub for the groundshare derby between Washington and Sunderland West End, for a 1st ever visit to the International Athletics Stadium (IAS), Gateshead. ‘The Heed’ have a derby of sorts themselves, against Spennymoor Town, less than 20 miles down the A1. Easy journey, and easy parking, as an artificial (American) football pitch at the north end of the ground was utilised as an extra car park. Free, too.
I also brought my prejudices with me. I detest having to view football over an athletics track, but this was no ‘London Stadium’. The rake of the seats in the Tyne and Wear Stand was such that, from the back at least, I had a perfectly good view across the pitch. Indeed, as I stood in the north car park, part of the reason for choosing to go in the (home) T&W Stand was because it looked like it had a steeper rake than the (away) East Stand. The former had a roof too, not essential given it was a bright, sunny day, but you never know. This IS the north-east. But why does the East Stand have a frame and no roof? At least it looks pretty…
I also imagined a poor atmosphere, but, actually, a large group of home fans made plenty of noise throughout. Not sure about their efforts to goad the 120 or so from Spenny across the pitch though. ‘You’re just a small town in Durham’ is technically correct if we presume Durham is a COUNTY as well as a city. (And in the days before the formation of the artificial entity that is ‘Tyne and Wear’, it’s also the county Gateshead stands in.)
I also missed out on a programme. I saw plenty of folk carrying one, but never saw any on sale. I suspect they were to be had from the counter marked ‘Gateshead Football Club Official Merchandise’ at the top of the stairs. A couple of folk had some empty plastic tubs and were sporting fistfuls of notes. Actual ‘Gateshead Football Club Official Merchandise’ on sale? None, though I could get a pint of ‘larger’ at ‘Clarky’s Café’. I guess that’s a bigger pint.
I dunno if segregation is a thing at the IAS normally either, or whether it was because the game was local…ish (less than 20 miles apart). Gateshead entertained Charlton the other month in the FA Cup with similar segregation. (I’d have gone to that game, had I not learnt on the day that tickets were advanced sales only…despite the attendance being less than half capacity. Note to football clubs: it’s difficult being able to make a decision in advance when you’re a carer and have other people to rely on you.) Anyway, there was no chance of trouble today, neither side caring about t’other.
It was an excellent game. Gateshead, top of the league and looking to return to the National League were ran ragged by a midtable Spenny side who still hadn’t returned to their early season form despite replacing the management team. However, the match was characterised by profligate finishing from the away side. Chances went begging, Spenny only having an early penalty to show for 5 or 6 great chances, while The Heed scored two from their one chance. The winner, a cut inside and 20 yarder into the far corner was fitting to win any match. Spenny still managed to squander a late chance, sub Oyibo (‘Look! It’s Allan Saint Maximum!’) running clean through, the keeper saving his scuffed shot before the rebound was neatly dinked over him….and wide. It was that sort of day for Spenny.
The Damage:
£15 ent
The Tunes:
Time High Fiction (Richard H. Kirk)
Hippopotamus (Sparks)
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