Media Watch - 19th February
Ian Bogie hails Gateshead striker Daryl Clare by Steve Brown, Evening Chronicle
IAN BOGIE has hailed Daryl Clare one of the greats of Conference history - while Darren Williams insists Gateshead can beat the drop and return to the Football League.
The Tynesiders take on Ebbsfleet United tomorrow in the second of four crucial home games in succession.
Victory over Barrow on Tuesday saw Bogie's men leapfrog the Cumbrians out of the Blue Square Premier relegation zone - and a further win over fellow strugglers Ebbsfleet would constitute a major boost.
Armed with the likes of Clare - twice winner of the Conference Golden Boot - and Williams, the Heed boss is in bullish mood.
Bogie said: "February's a big month for the club, with the four home games to end it.
"We are looking to pick up a sizeable chunk of points and try to secure our status in the Conference National.
"We have experienced players who have played on the big stage, one or two of them at Premier League level.
"Others have a great pedigree at this level.
"Daryl Clare's stats are there to be seen - he has a fantastic record of scoring goals.
"He is one of the best strikers in Conference history, without a doubt.
"He is always capable of finding you a goal and is a technically gifted player.
"I would rather have him in our team than be playing against him.
"We have other good players as well, and they all have to step up to the plate."
Williams for instance who, having played Premier League football with Sunderland, wants a return to the full-scale professional game.
The Teessider said: "The team has done OK this year, but we are down at the bottom and we have to make sure we stay in this league.
"There have been games where we have let ourselves down, games when we should have taken a result and we just have not produced at the right time.
"Hopefully, we can improve this over the second half of the season and set ourselves up nicely for next year.
"I want to be a Football League player again and I believe I have a decent chance of doing that here."
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Gateshead boss hoping for Tyneside double by Lee Ryder, Evening Chronicle
GEORDIE boy Ian Bogie knows that life on Tyneside is never dull.
But with his boyhood heroes battling for promotion and the side he manages fighting for survival, he could probably write a book about this season - and a good one at that.
Tomorrow he will take charge of Gateshead's crucial relegation crunch match with Ebbsfleet at the International Stadium while Newcastle lock horns with Preston North End just over the Tyne.
Indeed, there are two very different battles taking place on either side of the big river, but the former United and North End midfielder is hoping that by the end of the season he can be toasting success on two fronts.
Bogie was in the right place at the wrong time at St James' Park during a period many fans were glad to see the back of - a period when putting faith in young talent went out of the window.
The skilful ex-Wallsend Boys Club junior was allowed to leave Newcastle during the Jim Smith era at St James', but his love affair with the Magpies is unconditional.
Now as one of the game's young managers, Bogie - who led Gateshead to back-to-back promotions to football's unofficial fifth division - doesn't need reminding that people in football not only have short memories but also expect success overnight.
Incredibly, since being relegated last May, Chris Hughton has managed to achieve exactly that, and Bogie is impressed.
He told the Chronicle: "There was a lot of doom and gloom at Newcastle at the start of the season.
"I think, to be honest, most of us expected a mid-table finish or play-offs at best.
"But they've done very well and are in a great position.
"They have responded well this season and the performances from the players have been fantastic.
"There are a few links between the clubs and it would be great to get a few more Newcastle fans through our gate.
"We're slowly building our fanbase here and at this club it's vital to get more supporters through the turnstiles.
"Newcastle's attendances are nothing short of unbelievable and I'm delighted to see them doing well.
"We've come a long way in a short time.
"We're still a part-time club but we're still confident that we can stay up this season.
"This week we have had three massive games and we've won the first of those three.
"We hope to maintain our Conference status and that would be good for Newcastle and Gateshead.
"For me it would be a great double to see Newcastle promoted as a fan and former player and then as a manager keep Gateshead in the division."
Bogie is philosophical about his time at Newcastle and Preston, with the former Deepdale man going on to make 79 league appearances netting 12 goals.
And he expects a decent game between his two old sides. He said: "I follow both sides' results and it should be a good game.
"I was at Newcastle from the age of 13, so it was massive wrench to leave.
"Jim Smith was manager at the time and I was just a young kid really. he wanted to play senior players.
"He didn't have much faith in the youngsters at the time.
"So I went to Preston North End and really enjoyed my time there.
"It's a big club with a very proud history."
Now he hopes that the history books will see Gateshead return to the Football League for the first time in over half a century.
Bogie says: "We're in a tough league with plenty of former Football League clubs and the plan for us is long term.
"When you are in there with Luton, Oxford, York and Mansfield, they're all clubs with big resources.
"So it's a competitive league and we're confident we can stay in.
"The ambition for Gateshead in the fullness of time is to get into the Football League - it has to be.
"And the city can house both a Premier League and Football League side - it will be very good for the area.
"There's no reason why Gateshead and Newcastle United can't do well for the city."
