Gateshead FC Juniors

Gateshead FCGateshead FC Juniors were formed in March 2008 when Gateshead FC amalgamated with Low Fell Juniors. An increasing shortage of football opportunities within the Gateshead and Low Fell community was the catalyst in setting up a brand new modern youth football club in June 1999.

A group of dedicated and enthusiastic individuals passionate about junior football identified the need for an independent football facility within the community, and set about providing a quality club aimed at attracting, retaining and developing the football skills of youth players aged between 5 and 18.

The formation of the club was initially made possible with the generous financial and business support of NB Group Ltd with matched funding from Sportsmatch ( a business sponsorship incentive scheme for sport ). Thereafter we have been very fortunate to receive ongoing support from our main sponsors – Rooneys of Gateshead.

We now boost a playing membership in excess of 200 youngsters. We also have a very thriving nursery section with players as young as five and six being prepared for competitive football. All playing members benefit from quality football coaching carried out by qualified FA coaches.

We are a recognised FA Charter Standard Club, with the distinction of being awarded County FA Club of the Year in 2009. In addition former player and current coach Joel Errington was nominated as County FA Coach of the Year. A fantastic achievement so early after our formation.

Our mini soccer section ranges from under 7 to under 10 and teams are registered in either the Gateshead Apollo Doors Youth League, the Russell Foster Youth League or the Monkton Youth League and all play their games at central venues on a Saturday morning. Our 11 aside section consists of teams aged from U11 through to our oldest side at U18 level. Again these teams compete in a number of leagues across the North East.

The junior section fully supports the fabulous community programme in place that includes community coaching courses held throughout the school holidays which involve first team players. This programme continues to develop and now extends to the Gateshead FC Cup – an annual tournament held during the summer for local youth teams. Full details of these activities can be viewed within the community section of this website.

We have a strong relationship with the first team and newly formed reserve side which has already seen the involvement of members of our youth team over recent years. It is hoped this will continue in the months and years to come and provide a real incentive to our youngsters. In addition our junior sides regularly carry out ball boy duties on home match days during which they sample the big match atmosphere and have the opportunity to watch our first team players in action in the top flight competitive environment of the Blue Square Premier League .

All of our activities would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of all players, coaches, volunteers and parents and grandparents for which we are grateful.

Club Officials

Developing and maintaining 16 junior sides involving around 200 players – not to mention the 'nursery' section of 5 year olds – is no easy task. A lot of hard work and commitment goes into organising the junior set up and this is overseen by an enthusiastic and hardworking committee which includes:

Brian Waites

No need for major introductions here. As well as acting as Vice Chairman of GFC, Brian is Chairman of the Junior section. He was at the forefront of the original creation of Low Fell Juniors 9 years ago and has been instrumental in ensuring the club has progressed year on year since. The financial support given by Brian's company throughout this period has been vital and has given so many youngsters an opportunity to participate in 'our beautiful game'

Its fair to say that without Brian's dedication and commitment there would not have been a Low Fell Juniors FC and ultimately no Gateshead FC Juniors now – so we have a lot to be grateful for.

Barry Errington

Barry has probably the most unenviable but most important role within the junior section – junior secretary !!

His tasks are wide ranging:

  • ensuring we have all 200 players correctly registered within our 16 different sides
  • liaising with the 4 different leagues within which our teams play
  • dealing with all aspects of our affiliation with Durham FA
  • ensuring all sides have adequate training & playing facilities allocated
  • co-ordinating the club's activities with all coaches & managers

In addition Barry and his son Joel ( both qualified FA coaches ) look after the nursery section involving boys & girls aged 5 & 6, preparing them for the transition of moving into our youngest age group category of Under 7s. As well as having the patience of a saint Barry and Joel are now experts at fastening shoe laces !

Ken Charlton

Running so many teams necessitates a lot of equipment and kit and it is the responsibility of Ken, our Purchasing Manager, to ensure all sides have what they need during the season.

This includes strips, balls, coaching equipment ( bibs & cones etc ) and even down to making sure all sides have first aid kit.

Until a couple of seasons ago, along with Brian, Ken was involved with coaching one of the Junior sides and was one of the founder members of the original Junior committee.

Ken's involvement in football is at both ends of the age spectrum as he is also active in the region's popular Over 40s competition.

Steve Gilhespy

Steve is another with current GFC links and combines his first team match day duties and commercial activities with the task, alongside Ken, of organising and co-ordinating our Junior Club fundraising.

Fortunately we have had excellent backing over the years from many sponsors – NB Group in the early years to our current sponsor Rooneys of Gateshead to which we are extremely grateful. However, much of our expenditure we have to fund independently hence the need for various events during the season.

Steve would welcome any ideas anyone may have and would be grateful for your support at the various functions arranged.

Keith McNall

For those of you who followed the fortunes of Gateshead FC during the 1980s & early 1990s Keith will be no stranger having played for the Club for many seasons in the Conference and in successful Unibond / Northern Premier league promotion winning sides.

Keith is another who worked closely with Derek Bell in forging the Low Fell / GFC merger and currently has the responsibility of Football Development within the Junior section.

It is important our players are coached by fully qualified FA coaches and therefore it is Keith's task to ensure all our coaches are FA qualified and CRB cleared – which is a key requirement to our continued accreditation of being an FA Charter Status Club.

Extending the Club's involvement within the local community is also a key activity and Keith will continue to look at ways the current programme can be extended.

 

The Junior section are always on the look out for anybody who would like to get involved. Whether you have specific skills such as finance, administration, organisation, communication, child welfare or football coaching, or would just like to help, we would be very interested in hearing from you.