Former Black Cats put pen to paper

18/07/2010, by Jeff Bowron

Former Sunderland products David Dowson and David Brown have both put pen to paper on non-contract deals at Gateshead taking the squad up to 21 with more signings still to come.

Front man Dowson, 21, has Football League experience at both Chesterfield and Darlington while left back Brown is an England youth international.

"Both players have done well in training and in pre-season games," said manager Ian Bogie "Dowson is a hard working forward while Brown is a footballing left back and they have both earned their chance at Gateshead."

David Brown

Brown had a two-week trial at Crewe Alexandra at the back end of last season but is pleased to remain in his native North East.

"It was a disappointment to leave Sunderland as I had come through the ranks there, but this is a good chance to prove myself in a very competitive league," said Brown.

"Obviously Paul Heckingbottom has had a good career in the Football League and as a young lad hopefully I'll learn a lot from him, kick on and get in the team as much as I can."

As a scholarship player at Sunderland Brown was in the England under 16 side that won the Victory Shield with a win over Scotland at Scunthorpe's Glanford Park.

The defender then signed a one-year professional contract and became a regular in Sunderland's reserve side playing 16 of the Wearsiders 21 games last season before being released.

"The manager told me there was little likelihood of me playing in the first team in the near future and it would benefit my career to move on.

"Lucklily I have found a new challenge at Gateshead and it would be good to help the side move up the Conference Premier.

"Crewe had expressed an interest in taking me back for pre-season but I fancied something more local and Gateshead fits the bill nicely."

David Dowson

Line leader Dowson played 12 games on loan at Chesterfield during the 2008/9 season scoring three goals and spent the first half of last season on loan at Darlington.

Dowson played a total of 11 games for the struggling Quakers, seven of them starts, including a League Cup tie at home to Leeds United before returning to Sunderland.

After first linking up with Sunderland as a 13 year old the striker was released at the end of last season and has joined former Black Cats team-mate David Brown at Gateshead.

"I hadn't managed to break into the first team picture at Sunderland so it was no surprise when I was told they were letting me go," said Dowson.

"I knew one of the coaches at Gateshead, Paul Bryson, through his work at Sunderland and when he got in touch I was happy to come down for pre-season training.

"I had enjoyed it at Chesterfield as it was the chance to play first team football but it was a tough time at Darlington and it just went dowbn hill.

"The manager left and I was out of contention, either on the bench or not even in the squad some weeks so wasn't enjoying it.

"I went back to Sunderland where I had signed scholarship forms at 16 and than a professional contract when I was 18.

"I had three years as a pro. at Sunderland but never really got a look in at first team level so it was no surprise when they didn't renew my contract..

"At the age I am now I want to be playing first team football and hopefully I will get the chance to do that at Gateshead.

"Ian Bogie hasn't seen a lot of me so hopefully I'll get a few games, do well and earn a contract to replace the current non-contract.