Former Newcastle United star Rob Elliot confident of Gateshead future as Wembley date with destiny arrives

It is almost impossible to separate the process and the upward trajectory Gateshead have found themselves on over the last five years.

Under former manager Mike Williamson, when the word process became a common theme in pre and post-match interviews, the Heed recovered from an enforced relegation into the National League North, secured the second tier title, earned a number of FA Cup ‘proper’ round appearances and earned a first ever visit to the FA Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium.

Williamson, alongside faithful assistant manager Ian Watson and popular coach Chris Bell, may well have exited stage left when they were tempted away by an offer from League Two club MK Dons in October - but there is a still a determination to stay true to some of the values that were held during their highly successful reign at the International Stadium.

The current process implemented by interim manager Rob Elliot and his coaching staff is no carbon copy, it is a modified version, a Gateshead 2.0 perhaps, and one that intriguingly will not end when the full-time whistle blows on their FA Trophy Final clash with Solihull Moors on Saturday evening.  For now, Elliot’s name may well still be preceded by that ‘interim’ tag that has provoked much discussion over what may or may not lie ahead for the man in charge of the Heed supporters’ hopes and dreams - but it is business as usual for the former Magpies goalkeeper.

He explained: “That’s what I am planning for (next season) - and I think to be honest, it’s (the interim tag) not something we are too fussed about.

“The uniqueness of this club is that those sort of things, the players, we are sorting out their contracts this week and next week, it’s the end of the season, it’s the same with us and we know there’s more important things to worry about than who is in charge.  I think everyone knows we are all very happy, we love it here, and we think there’s more to grow with the club.  When it comes to that side of it, it’s never been a priority because I don’t think it’s needed to be.

“I’m not in a rush to go anywhere, we just want to make sure the club is left in the best position at the end of the season and going into next year we know looking forward we are going to be better again.  That’s pretty much what the club has done so well over the last few years, it’s just got stronger and stronger.”

For only the second time in their history, Gateshead secured a place in the National League play-offs as a win against already crowned champions Chesterfield ensured they would claim a top seven spot and keep alive their dreams of earning a promotion into the Football League.  Cruelly, just 24 hours after their final game of the season, a 2-1 win against a Bromley side that will compete in League Two next season, it was confirmed issues with a ten-year security of tenure on the International Stadium meant the Heed’s home did not meet the criteria to compete in the EFL or the National League play-offs.

Difficult questions have been asked.  Why would players wish to sign for or remain at a club that is unable to progress?  Is Elliot concerned about what may happen to a squad of players that are one of the strongest the club has been able to boast in their history?  Despite those concerns, the current Heed boss remains confident any on or off-field issues will find a suitable resolution over the coming weeks.

“(We are) really confident, and it helps with players being contracted,” he explained.

“The situation outside, obviously I can’t speak on it massively in terms of understanding the ins and outs - but I think there are multiple solutions to that now.  We have more time and I think it’s something that will be rectified.  The positives building on to next season are I think the players know we can get a lot better.  We finished sixth, in my opinion, because of circumstance, rather than performance in that we had to play five games in nine days, so ten percent of our season went into the smallest space of time.

“We have lost players for a big period of time so three or four games we didn’t even have a squad together.  I wouldn’t say we have underachieved, we have hit the minimum we were expecting so there is more output there and my challenge to the lads is can they go one step further next year and really challenge as high as they can all season.  That’s an extremely ambitious target but there is no point in doing it otherwise.”

One of the key aspects of Gateshead’s season has been the unwavering backing of their supporters.  Although not as great in number as some across the region, they have played a lead role in helping their club away from the precipice and into what, despite recent events, still feels like a future full of promise and hope.  They will travel to London hoping to see their side lift the Trophy for the first time in their history and claim a Wembley win on their third visit to the home of football in ten years.

For them, the season has been one where the emotions have been polarised to an extent rarely witnessed at the International Stadium.  One where key departures have sat alongside inspired signings, where stunning performances have been dampened by major injuries, and where celebrations over that play-off place were immediately tempered by the cruel events that meant an attempts to secure a historic promotion were cut short.

For Elliot, a boyhood Charlton Athletic supporter who lived the dream of representing his club, the loyalty and commitment of the Gateshead faithful has not gone unnoticed and nor has the impact of recent events.

He said: “They have been brilliant and the support at home just got better and better towards the end of the season in terms of numbers and the Bromley game was such a brilliant game during the buildup.  The performance during the second-half was the best we’ve had against such a strong team.  The away support has been a joke really. The travelling the fans have to do, they’re horrendously long, and it’s a long way to Yeovil and Forest Green next year too.  I think the fans have been terrific and let’s understand, with everything going on, it’s not just effecting the players, it’s effecting supporters who give so much to the club.

“It doesn’t matter how big the club is, a football club means as much to a die-hard supporter, whether you get 10,000 fans or 100,000 fans or a 1,000 fans.  I was privileged to play for my boyhood club, Charlton Athletic, and that probably gave me a good insight and understanding into what it means to represent a football club.  Even before I come in, Louis and the boys, they take that to heart and it’s an important part of the process.”

The process may well be an echo of Gateshead’s success of the recent past - and it seems, with Elliot in control, it may well be a big part of their future, no matter what challenges should lie ahead.