The U’s return to action after a brief break, with a midweek visit of Gateshead to the VBS Community Stadium.
Last Time Out
Goals from Mike Fondop, Charlie Raglan and James Norwood were enough to condemn Sutton United to defeat against play-off rivals Oldham Athletic.
Fondop gave Oldham the lead after 18 minutes when his header from a Mark Kitching cross somehow escaped the grip of Steve Arnold, but Will Davies levelled the score at the start of the second half when he converted the rebound from his initial effort following Josh Coley’s free kick.
Raglan restored the Latics’ lead moments later when he met Tom Conlon’s free kick, and former U’s loanee Norwood would come off the bench to secure the victory when he met fellow substitute Jake Caprice’s cross.
Watch the highlights here.
The Opposition
Gateshead have established a reputation for being one of the most exciting sides in the National League, and have continued a positive rise up the division since winning promotion back to the fifth tier in 2022.
The Tynesiders have enjoyed a successful couple of seasons in the National League, with former manager Mike Williamson guiding them from the National League North to the top six of the National League, before departing for MK Dons midway through the 2023/24 campaign.
Director of Football Rob Elliot would subsequently take the reins and continued Williamson’s work, securing a play-off place at the end of the season and a shot at EFL football for the first time in the club’s history, although issues with stadium regulations meant they were unable to compete.
Nonetheless though, Gateshead have remained competitive at the top of the National League table and currently sit fourth, despite high profile departures in Marcus Dinanga to Bromley and Ed Francis to Exeter City, along with manager Elliot and defender Louis Storey to Crawley Town. The Heed have added plenty of quality to their ranks in the shape of Jacob Butterfield, Charlie Colkett, Brandon Haunstrup, Ben Radcliffe, Jean Belehouan, Owen Oseni, Tiernan Brooks, Dan Jones and Tyrelle Newton, while former full back Carl Magnay has taken over from Elliot in the dugout, and drew 2-2 with Altrincham in first game in charge on the weekend.
Recent Form
Altrincham 2-2 Gateshead
Gateshead 1-3 Hednesford Town
Hednesford Town 1-1 Gateshead
Tamworth 2-1 Gateshead
Gateshead 1-0 Wealdstone
Gateshead 1-0 Middlesbrough Academy
The Manager
Former Gateshead full back Carl Magnay took the reins at the Gateshead International Stadium last week, replacing outgoing manager Rob Elliot after his departure to Crawley Town.
The 35-year old enjoyed a successful playing career, starting out in the Leeds United academy prior to winning the second series of the Sky One talent search Football Icon. He subsequently spent time at Birtley Town and Esh Winning before joining Chelsea, where he would spend the next four years.
He would gain experience on loan at MK Dons and Northampton Town, before departing Stamford Bridge in 2011. Magnay returned to the north of England to his hometown club Gateshead in 2012, making 77 appearances over a two-year span, and later turned out for Grimsby Town and Hartlepool United.
He picked up six awards including Supporters Player of the Year award, at the former’s annual presentation during his one-year stay at Blundell Park, before enjoying a successful four-year stint at Hartlepool, making over 100 appearances and briefly captaining the club as well.
Magnay would later enjoy a spell at Spennymoor Town before returning to Gateshead in 2022, helping the club clinch the National League North title in his first season back, before featuring in the 2023 FA Trophy final a year later.
The defender would hang up his boots following an ACL injury, but remained at Gateshead as part of Mike Williamson’s coaching staff before twice following his former manager to both MK Dons and then Carlisle United, before taking up his first managerial role with a return to the Gateshead International Stadium for a third time, drawing 2-2 with Altrincham in his first game in charge.
One to Watch
Regan Booty
Huddersfield Town academy product Regan Booty has established himself as one of the best midfielders in non-league, and will no doubt be a clear threat for the U’s come Wednesday night.
Having joined the Terriers as a boy, Booty would captain the club’s Under-23’s and later gained experience on loan at Aldershot Town, making 33 appearances for the Shots during the 2018/19 season.
He would depart the Kirklees Stadium following the end of the same campaign and joined Notts County, where he made 13 appearances.
In search of regular first team football, Booty dropped into the sixth tier of English football when he joined Maidstone United, and helped the club win promotion to the National League in his debut season, before being a positive spark in an otherwise dismal 2022/23 campaign which saw the Kent-based outfit relegated back to the National League South.
Booty nonetheless impressed though, and left the Gallagher Stadium with 51 appearances to his name to join Gateshead, contributing to a hugely successful 2023/24 campaign which saw the Heed seal a top seven finish, their highest league finish in ten years.
Head-To-Head
Sutton United 4-2 Gateshead (16/03/2019)
Gateshead 0-0 Sutton United (17/11/2018)
Gateshead 0-2 Sutton United (06/01/2018)
Sutton United 1-1 Gateshead (09/09/2017
Sutton United 3-0 Gateshead (14/04/2017)
Gateshead 1-0 Sutton United (03/09/2016)
Played for Both
Paul Whitmarsh
Striker Paul Whitmarsh began his professional career with West Ham United before joining Doncaster Rovers, and it was while at Doncaster that he made a handful of appearances on loan at Gateshead at the end of the 1993-94 season.
He moved south in summer 1994, joining Stevenage before moving to Dulwich, where he cultivated a reputation as one of the Isthmian League’s most prolific scorers, netting 74 goals in 155 games in three years at Dulwich and then 70 goals in 120 games for Hendon, who paid a club record fee for him in November 1997.
After a brief spell with Welling United he joined the U’s midway through the 2000/01 season and made 23 league and cup appearances, scoring ten goals, before leaving the club at the end of the season and subsequently moving to Ireland, where he still lives.
Team News
Hayden Muller is nearing a return to action from the hamstring injury picked up last month, although tomorrow’s clash with Gateshead will come too soon for the defender.
Meanwhile, Ryan Jackson and Edwin Agbaje remain a few weeks away from a return, with the former having surgery on a bruised retina sustained against Southend United, while the latter has temporarily returned to parent club Ipswich Town to continue his recovery from a hamstring problem picked up during pre-season.
Finally, Lewis Simper is awaiting a scan after going off in the first half on Saturday against Oldham Athletic.
Officials
Elliott Swallow is the man in the middle on Wednesday night. Promoted to the National League list five years ago, he is making his second visit to the VBS Community Stadium having refereed our FA Trophy tie with Dagenham in December 2019. He subsequently took charge of games at Bromley later that season and Stockport in February 2021.
How to Follow
Video
Both overseas and UK-based supporters can follow the action on National League TV, by a purchasing a match pass here for £9.99.
Audio
Supporters will also be able to listen to all the action, with a Mixlr audio commentary being available and will be posted on social media accounts before kick-off.
At the VBS
Advance online prices for ground admission are as follows:
Adults: £21
Concessions (age over 60/students with current ID): £15
Junior (age 14-18): £7
Under-14s: Free if accompanied by adult or senior concession
Seat prices are £4 more in all cases. Supporters are reminded that these cheaper advance prices are available up to kick-off, and while tickets will be available on the day, tickets bought in person on the day carry a price increase of £2.
Click here to purchase a ticket.
Kit Watch
The U’s will be wearing their amber home kit. You can purchase a replica version here.
