Lee Cattermole has opened up about his discipline issues during his playing career, stating that his new Gateshead stars can learn from his mistakes. The new Gateshead boss had his problems on and off the field, but now he is looking to prove himself in charge of the Tynesiders.
A New Chapter for Cattermole
Born and raised on Teesside, Cattermole became a stalwart on Wearside during his playing days. He was once a Middlesbrough academy product and the club's youngest ever captain before going on to wear the armband at Sunderland for over a decade. There were infamous derby moments, such as when Alan Pardew accused him of 'setting the scene' with a robust early challenge on Cheik Tiote in a fiery Tyne-Wear draw at St James' Park in March 2012.
Now, as Gateshead manager, Cattermole's calm, composed, and focused approach is a far cry from the on-field persona that drew criticism. By his own admission, mistakes were made, but those same mistakes are now playing a significant role in how he will manage his Heed players.
Learning from the Past
Cattermole told Chronicle Live: "I am quite fortunate, I know myself well, I know why I made some mistakes. I was quite young and as a coach, I like to put boundaries in place. That helps secure them on the pitch and make good decisions. I had good success when I had those boundaries put in place by coaches and then at other times, when I felt I was a big giver, I always tried and probably over-tried at times – and that's when I found problems."
He added: "For me, the discipline will be really important in the team. The players will have the right structure around them to make good decisions and I can lean on things that have hindered me in the past. That's what it's about, that's the journey. Because you made mistakes, that shapes you."
Immediate Aims and Ambitions
During the press conference to introduce Cattermole, interim chairman Graham Wood stated that his aim is to take the club into the EFL, a goal that drew a wry smile from Cattermole. However, the new manager's immediate aims are more modest.
"For me, it's everything," he explained. "It's what I'm building with the staff, it's not just on me. I want everyone to be part of it – but ultimately, I want to see a team on the pitch, behaving in a way that shows they know what they're doing and they're enjoying it. They're competitive in every game and every phase of the game because there will be games where we aren't as dominant as other games – but we still know what we are doing. If the players and everyone from the outside are looking at Gateshead as a positive place to go and watch football, that's me doing my job because I want to be as professional as I can be."
Overcoming Rivalries
An elephant in the room during Cattermole's introduction was his Teesside upbringing and decade-long spell on Wearside. Does this hamper his attempts to become a success on the banks of the Tyne? He said: "I think it's predominantly been more Newcastle here – but it's quite funny, all of my wife's family are black and white. I played ten years at Sunderland, my family are predominantly Middlesbrough. The only one without a team is my little lad – so he might be a Gateshead fan. If we can get more fans in, that would be brilliant, it would be a success story."
He concluded: "For me, it's learning about the whole club in general. Already I can feel there is a warmth around it. There are a lot of people put a lot of time and energy into it and I want to connect with everybody and create a really positive vibe around it that will be portrayed to everyone else."
