Newcastle United are exploring a renewed partnership with non-league neighbours Gateshead, which could begin with a pre-season friendly on July 25. The two clubs remain in discussions over the potential date, which would mark one of the first opportunities for new Gateshead manager Lee Cattermole to see his side in action.
Cattermole was officially unveiled as the Heed's new manager on Tuesday, and he expressed openness to working with former clubs Sunderland and Middlesbrough to develop their young players through loan spells at the International Stadium. According to Chronicle Live, Newcastle have also shown interest in discussing non-league loans as part of their plans, with talks set to continue alongside arrangements for the pre-season game. A provisional date of July 25 has been proposed.
The two teams previously met in a behind-closed-doors fixture in 2022, which Newcastle won 5-1, and then faced off at the International Stadium a year later, where two goals from Elliot Anderson secured a 3-2 victory for the Magpies. However, the most memorable pre-season encounter dates back to 1995, when 11,500 fans packed the International Stadium to see David Ginola and Les Ferdinand make their debuts following a remarkable summer of recruitment.
Gateshead hope to continue their relationship with their Premier League neighbours. The club has built a reputation for accelerating the development of academy prospects in recent years, with players like Derby County striker Dajaune Brown, Stockport County defender Ethan Pye, and Cambridge United centre-back Mamadou Jobe all thriving during temporary stints at the International Stadium.
Cattermole faces the task of strengthening the squad he inherited from former Newcastle goalkeeper Rob Elliot, following several departures from the Heed ranks in the past month. Talks are ongoing over new contracts for captain Kenton Richardson and winger Harry Chapman, though both players have attracted interest from elsewhere. Promising midfield duo Josh Home and Fenton John have committed their futures to the club, and Gateshead have triggered extensions for goalkeeper Adam Desbois, as well as defenders Brad Nicholson and David Ferguson.
Nevertheless, there is a clear need to add to the 14 senior players currently at Cattermole's disposal. Chronicle Live understands that a defender with significant National League and League Two experience is keen to move to the International Stadium.
Cattermole, who spent a decade playing for Sunderland and later coached in the academy at Middlesbrough, is open to working with his former clubs and Newcastle on potential loan deals. He believes he can offer the right guidance for young prospects to thrive at Gateshead. "I think it's down to so much stuff in terms of where these players are at. Who is available, who is not available. What the academy directors think, what the clubs think, what their agents think. I'd like to think they will trust us and know they will be in good hands," Cattermole said.
"We will carry on whatever development plans they have for their players and we will communicate as much as we can. They would be coming into an environment where there is lots of care and lots of challenge. They'll enjoy it because that challenge point is crucial for me as a manager. It's about how can we challenge and support them at the right level on the right days. That excites me as a manager because they know it will be tough but they know why it will be tough." He added, "You shouldn't rule anything out - but I'm not even 24 hours in so we will see."
