TT MATCH PREVIEW – GATESHEAD (A) by Steve Harris

TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

Steve Harris previews the game at the Gateshead International Stadium

GATESHEAD FC VS TORQUAY UNITED

Venue: The International Stadium, Gateshead

Date: Saturday 18^th March 2023

Kick-off: 3pm

CURRENT FORM

Gateshead: D, W, D, L, D, W

Torquay: L, L, L, D, L, L

TOP SCORERS

Gateshead: Adam Campbell (7)

Torquay: Aaron Jarvis (13)

HEAD TO HEAD

Gateshead: 5

Draw: 4

Torquay: 4

GATESHEAD FACTFILE

Year founded: 1977

Nickname: The Heed

Last season’s league finish: 1st in National League North

Notable honours:

National League North:

Champions: 2021-22

MANAGER: MIKE WILLIAMSON

A familiar figure to Torquay United fans, Mike Williamson started his career with the Gulls in the 2001-02 season after being handed his debut by Roy McFarland before joining Southampton for £100,000. He would later return to Plainmoor on loan under Leroy Rosenior in 2003-04.

Williamson then re-ignited his career with a move to Wycombe Wanderers, who he joined permanently in 2005, after spending the 2004-05 campaign on loan at Adams Park.

His form for the Chairboys earned him a move to the Championship with Watford in 2009, which was swiftly followed by a move to Portsmouth, who were then in the Premier League.

Due to Pompey’s financial issues, Williamson was soon on the move again. This time to Newcastle United, who he won promotion from the Championship with in the 2009-10 season.

He remained with the Magpies until 2016, when he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers following a loan spell. After a year at Molineux, Williamson dropped down to League One to sign for Oxford United before he was released by Karl Robinson in the summer of 2018.

He then joined Gateshead as a player before becoming player-coach and then manager in June 2019.

PLAYER TO WATCH: JAMES MONTGOMERY

A cousin of the legendary former Sunderland goalkeeper Jim Montgomery, James Montgomery is currently in his third spell with the Heed.

After starting his career as a youth team player with Middlesbrough, spells with Guiseley and AFC Telford United before joining Gateshead for the first time in 2017.

He remained at the International Stadium for a year before moving into the Football League with Forest Green Rovers. A spell with AFC Fylde followed prior to his return to the Heed in October 2020 for his second spell.

An emergency loan stint with Southend United followed after National League North was declared null and void in the 2020-21 season. He also appeared for Chesterfield in their 2020-21 National League play-off campaign before returning to Gateshead for a third time.

MONTGOMERY STATS:

Position: Goalkeeper

Date of Birth: 20th April 1994 (28 years old)

Place of Birth: Sunderland

Height: 1.88m

Former Clubs: Middlesborough, Guiseley, Nike Academy, Telford, Forest Green, Fylde, Southend, Chesterfield

NL Stats 22-23: Played 13, Gonceded 21, Clean Sheets 1

OLD BOYS

Gateshead: Mike Williamson

Torquay: None

LAST MEETING

Torquay United 1-1 Gateshead

Saturday 26th November, 2022

Torquay missed the chance to move off the bottom of the National League as fellow strugglers Gateshead hit back to claim a 1-1 draw at Plainmoor.

Aaron Jarvis’ sixth goal of the season gave the Gulls the lead following a sustained spell of pressure, but the Heed struck back to equalise through a goal that was accredited to skipper Owen Bailey.

Torquay had twice gone close in the first half as Mark Ellis and Brett McGavin forced James Montgomery to save and Dillon De Silva had a goal disallowed for offside in the 66^th minute.