Blyth Spartans
0
Gateshead
Bone 15', Adore 75'
2
Tuesday 22 July 2025 7PM
Friendly
Attendance: 426
Blyth Spartans v Gateshead | Tuesday, 22 July 2025 - 19:00 | Friendly
Blyth Spartans vs Gateshead FC | Match Preview
Date: Tuesday, 22 July 2025
Stadium: Croft Park
Time: 7:00pm KO
Ticket Prices: £8 for adults, £4 for concessions, £4 11-16 & Students, £0 10 & under.
Blyth Spartans are preparing for their penultimate pre-season friendly as we welcome Gateshead to Croft Park.
Having been beaten 3-0 by Morpeth Town last week, the Spartans bounced back with an excellent 4-2 victory over Gretna 2008 on Saturday - a performance which shown, especially in the first half, exactly what Colin Myers' side have to offer going into the new season.
The final home fixture before the season kicks off against Redcar Athletic on Saturday, August 9, Blyth fans will be hoping for a big performance against a side three divisions above them.
The Opposition: Gateshead FC
Plying their trade in the National League, the Tynesiders spent 10 years in the fifth tier of English football before being relegated in 2019 due to financial irregularities.
After gaining promotion to the fifth tier of the English football pyramid, Gateshead have been knocking on the door of the EFL for several seasons.
They then won promotion back to the National League in 2022, where they have been for the past three seasons.
Earning a place in the play-offs in 2023/24, Gateshead were barred from competing after failing to meet the entry criteria for the Football League due to not obtaining a "10-year security of tenure" for their stadium, the Gateshead International Stadium.
The Heed then narrowly missed on the play-offs last term, finishing eighth in the table.
One to Watch
Gateshead will be looking for a new star following the exit of two star men at the end of last season.
Luke Hannant departed to join League Two side Oldham Athletic after scoring 15 goals from midfield.
The Heed also lost Owen Oseni who earned a move to Plymouth Argyle after a 12-goal campaign.
With new signings Callum Johnson and David Ferguson on board, Gateshead will look to Jovan Malcolm to score the goals needed to earn promotion this time around.
From the Dugout
Spartans' fans will see a familiar face in the away dugout with Alun Armstrong in charge of Gateshead.
Armstrong joined Blyth in September 2016 and spent three seasons in charge of the club, earning promotion to the National League North and earning a spot in the play-offs.
In May 2019 he controversially left Blyth to join Darlington where he spent more than four years before being sacked in September 2023.
Joining Gateshead as under-19s coach, Armstrong was promoted to first team boss this summer.
What has been said?
Blyth boss Colin Myers revealed that a number of new signings could be made in time for the start of the new season.
He said:
We're currently talking to a couple of players, as we speak, who have been around for a few years and have played at decent levels so they know what this league is all about.
It's just about working hard to get them over the line.
There's three lads that we've been talking to, plus there's a few lads who have been released from academies and we'll be talking to them as well.
Written by Phil Spencer