The Poolie Bunker

Basically they have us finishing 11th on 62 points. and themselves 6th. with a predicted draw at our place. They reckon they will get a extra 6 points from 5 games and us 7 from 5.

I think Gateshead will limp over the play offs line, but poor form leading into the play offs, including at defeat at Victoria Park, won't stand them in good stead to win the play offs, definitely the team you'd want to play in the play offs, though I'm not sure Gateshead as a club are that bothered about getting into the FL. They know they are not ready, and that it could be a step too far, they have constant problems keeping non league football alive never mind in the Football League.

If you live in Gateshead that’s worries enough .

they,ll obviously will receive sponsorship money from the league plus a few more home fans and even more away fans ticking off a new ground where they have never been before. other clubs with poor home gates survived like morecambe and accrington who actually gained a promotion with a home fan base below 2,000 regulars. just boils my piss that we cannot do it with double that number.

As we have been constantly reminded recently by smug Mags celebrating the end of 70 years of hurt, Newcastle is a one club city. Gateshead FC have always lived in the shadow of their infinitely larger neighbour and traditionally only attract increased support when the Mags are going through a period of decline ie 'haddaway and shite' (which has occurred quite regularly over those 70 years). The Heed struggle to attract much more than 1k on the terraces even when they are doing well so it is somewhat baffling that anyone would be prepared to pump a decent amount of cash into a club that plays in an athletics stadium and has a poor catchment area - unless they plan to relocate the club elsewhere?

Conversely, Pools have an existing much larger fanbase than the Heed, one which could be readily amplified given even a modicum of success. Also, being a fair distance from Tyne and Wear, Pools are not living in anyone's shadow (the Borer aren't big enough to cast a shadow) although I understand that there may be a handful of plastic Mags living in the town doubtless further seduced by the Mags long, long awaited success.

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As we have been constantly reminded recently by smug Mags celebrating the end of 70 years of hurt, Newcastle is a one club city. Gateshead FC have always lived in the shadow of their infinitely larger neighbour and traditionally only attract increased support when the Mags are going through a period of decline ie 'haddaway and shite' (which has occurred quite regularly over those 70 years). The Heed struggle to attract much more than 1k on the terraces even when they are doing well so it is somewhat baffling that anyone would be prepared to pump a decent amount of cash into a club that plays in an athletics stadium and has a poor catchment area - unless they plan to relocate the club elsewhere?

Conversely, Pools have an existing much larger fanbase than the Heed, one which could be readily amplified given even a modicum of success. Also, being a fair distance from Tyne and Wear, Pools are not living in anyone's shadow (the Borer aren't big enough to cast a shadow) although I understand that there may be a handful of plastic Mags living in the town doubtless further seduced by the Mags long, long awaited success.

they,ll obviously will receive sponsorship money from the league plus a few more home fans and even more away fans ticking off a new ground where they have never been before. other clubs with poor home gates survived like morecambe and accrington who actually gained a promotion with a home fan base below 2,000 regulars. just boils my piss that we cannot do it with double that number.

As an aside, in addition to besting a couple of L2 clubs, Pools had the highest recorded attendance in the NL, NLN, NLS and 30 leagues below last Saturday. Admittedly some of the top NL sides were either playing away from home or competing in the FA Trophy semis - but realistically only York, Oldham, Saafend and maybe Rochdale would have attracted higher attendances. It should also be noted that Darlo attracted less than 200 more spectators than Stockton Town on Saturday and barely scraped 1k in a recent midweek home fixture.

Yeah I get that, I just think, unlike Morecambe and Accrington, where there was always a desire to obtain or get back league football, I just get the feeling that in Gateshead there isn't that desire from enough people. Relying on improved gates of groundhoppers and lads on a weekend in Newcastle on the lash, and hoping Newcastle and Sunderland aren't playing isn't a good economic policy for survival in the FL. Gateshead may pull in supporters of Newcastle and Sunderland when they are not playing or away, and it is an attractive away venue for supporters of particularly clubs in the South, due to its proximity to Newcastle's nightlife, but I believe Morecambe and Accrington would pull in a 1000 genuine supporters on a wet Tuesday night in November if they were bottom of the Div 2, I'm not so sure about Gateshead, probably 500. Remember this is the the club that used to get gates of 2500 in 1960.