Gateshead unveil their new captain ahead of season opener

The former Hartlepool United and Barnet midfielder became a key figure in Mike Williamson’s squad after signing a one-year deal at the International Stadium in the first month of last season.

The 32-year-old made 33 appearances and scored three goals as the Heed made their way into the National League North play-offs before seeing their dreams of making an immediate return to non-league’s top tier ended by a 5-2 defeat at Boston United.

Deverdics put pen-to-paper on a new deal this summer and has now been handed the captain’s armband following the departure of former skipper Scott Barrow, who went on to join National League North rivals York City.

Deverdics will now lead out Gateshead in Saturday’s FA Cup second qualifying round tie at Chorley and he is hopeful that his side will be “ready and firing” as their competitive season gets underway.

He told the Gateshead website: “We’ve had a half-decent pre-season considering everything that’s going on, minus last weekend, but that’s easily forgotten if we go and get a good result at Chorley.

“I’m looking forward to what I think will be a decent season so to be able to lead the lads through it will be a privilege.

“Everyone is just itching to play a competitive game.

“We played a couple in the play-offs, which seems like ages ago now, but we’re just itching to get back into a proper schedule where you know the season is starting for definite and we can concentrate on that.

“There were more favourable cup draws out there with regards to the ranking, and we would have preferred a home draw with us being away on the Monday, but it is what it is.

“I’m sure everyone will be ready and firing come Saturday.”

Gateshead player-manager Williamson could hand a number of competitive debuts at Victory Park after the likes of former Middlesbrough defender Nathan Dale, York City full-back Kallum Griffiths and former Newcastle United youngster Kieran Aplin all joined the club this summer.