Greg Olley says there is more to come from Gateshead after play-off disappointment

Midfielder Greg Olley believes that Gateshead have moved on from their National League North play-off disappointment.
Greg Olley says there is more to come from Gateshead after play-off disappointmentGreg Olley says there is more to come from Gateshead after play-off disappointment
Greg Olley says there is more to come from Gateshead after play-off disappointment

The former Newcastle United and Hull City youngster was part of the Heed side that saw their dreams of returning to the National League ended by a 5-2 defeat at Boston United in the play-off semi-final last month.

Preparations for the new season are already underway and Olley has featured heavily in both of Gateshead’s pre-season fixtures against Carlisle United and Sunderland.

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The Heed players have now been given ten days away from the club by management duo Mike Williamson and Ian Watson – but will return to round off their pre-season schedule with home games against South Shields and Hartlepool United.

Ahead of the break, Olley reflected on the reaction that his team-mates have shown since missing out on a return to non-league’s top tier and insisted that they are all focused on improving throughout the new season.

He told: “I think we have mentally moved on from the play-offs and everything that happened there.

“Maybe the day after, or two days after, it was already gone because it’s football, these things happen, and it has to go out of the window when the next season is coming around.

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“We have been lucky to have the training we have so far, we have ten days off ahead of us and then we will be right back at it ahead of the season.

“We are looking forward to the new season and we are working hard to get ready for it.”

Gateshead have already been tipped as one of the sides that will challenge for promotion into the National League throughout the upcoming season.

They will compete with the likes of York City, Brackley Town, Chester and North East rivals Darlington and Spennymoor Town for a top seven place.

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An already-competitive division has been further enhanced by the relegation of AFC Fylde and Chorley – but Olley stressed that the Gateshead squad believe that they are good enough to challenge at the top end of the table once again.

“There is more to come from us as a squad of players and we know it will be a very tough league once again.

“It’s always a tough league and you won’t get an easy game anywhere you go.

“We have to got to be ready, but we fancy ourselves to do well, we fancy ourselves to be one of the best sides in the league and be at the top end of the table again this season.

“There is a lot to look forward to.”