By Kate Jackson
August 7 2013

The biggest ground in the Conference by quite some way is Gateshead's International Stadium. An athletics stadium that isn't awful, but definitely feels weird with less than 1,000 people in there.

There is definitely a stigma surrounding athletics stadiums being used by football teams and it definitely has it's critics. For me it depends on numerous factors and I don't just automatically dislike watching football at an athletics stadium, although it does seem strange.

Around the country there aren't that many teams that use athletics stadiums these days, especially after both Brighton, Newport and Rotherham all moved out of their stadiums, which means that Gateshead have are the highest placed team in the English footballing structure with an athletics stadium.

Anyway, getting to Gateshead is relatively simple because it's right next to Newcastle, meaning that there are good links via rail. Whilst there is very little to do around the ground, with Newcastle just a quick tram ride away, you should easily be able to find something to do. Before our first game at the stadium in January 2012, I went on a tour of St James' Park, the home of Newcastle United, and Sunderland's Stadium of Light is also along the same tram route, meaning you could do that as well.

Once you get off of the tram station marked "Gateshead International Arena" it is about a 10 minute walk to the stadium, but it's near enough a perfect straight line, meaning it's pretty much impossible to get lost.

Getting around to the away end is relatively simple and what is quite strange with regards to Gateshead is that their turnstile system never seems to be closed, you could just wander in and take pictures. On one occasion I started recording a video within the ground and a member of staff had to fully walk across the pitch from the other side of the stadium to tell me to go, but by then I had already noticed her and left. In theory you could easily get into the ground completely for free.

On all visits I have also had lengthy chats with the turnstile staff whilst waiting for the ground to officially open and they all seemed relatively friendly, although their knowledge didn't seem to extend beyond the north east with regards to other teams.

Once you do get in the ground you are greeted by a pretty basic away end and you immediately notice that despite the roof, you are extremely open to the elements. In the January 2012 visit it was relatively warm for the time of year, and yet as soon as I entered the stadium, I was absolutely freezing. Wind swept through that was barely felt before hand and the amount of people stood around the hand dryer at the half time break to warm their hands was ridiculous.

Other than that it's not actually an awful away end, with away fans being given an entire side stand. Whilst the athletics track means that you're quite far from the pitch, it's note actually an awful view because of the location for the away fans.

Because of the shape of the roof, it does become quite hard to create an atmosphere, or at least some that carries any decent noise.

The only other stand in use in the ground is the stand opposite and this is a very large seated stand that takes up about half of the pitch. The stand is quite steep and other than a few seats at the top, this is completely unrestricted in terms of view. The only problem with this stand is that it always looks empty because of Gateshead's poor attendances.

The stands at either end are tiny seated stands that curve around the pitch. These are unused and that is probably a good thing because you can't really see anything from those stands, especially towards the opposite goals.

Overall it's not actually an awful ground and to be fair, it is one of the nicer in the Conference, although watching a football match in an athletics stadium still feels strange.

Gateshead's fans didn't really create an atmosphere and sat relatively quiet all throughout the game, even when 3-1 up with only a few minutes to go in the 2012 visit.

As an all around away day it's not too bad to be fair, okish ground, friendly enough people and right next to a massive city, however, would I come here for a non-Lincoln game? Probably not.

Gateshead's International Stadium

Discussion started by theimps.ka (IP Logged), 07/08/2013 08:31

theimps.ka
07/08/2013 08:31

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