Gateshead FC First Team Squad - Forwards
David Dowson - Forward
- Date of Birth:
- 12/09/1988
- Previous Clubs:
- Sunderland, Chesterfield (Loan), Darlington (Loan)
Dowson linked up with Gateshead during the summer following his release from Sunderland where he had spent the last three years as a professional.
During his time at the Stadium of Light the striker scored three goals in 12 games while on loan at Chesterfield during the 2008/9 campaign. Last season the 21 year old made 11 appearances on loan at Darlington , playing in ten Football League games and a League Cup tie against Leeds United.
9. Jon Shaw - Forward
- Date of Birth:
- 10/11/1983
- Previous Clubs:
- Sheffield Wednesday, York City (Loan), Burton Albion, Halifax Town, Rochdale, Crawley Town (Loan), Barrow (Loan), Mansfield Town
An experienced striker who linked up with Gateshead during the close season after a brief spell at Mansfield Town. The 26 year old's career began at hometown club Sheffield Wednesday where he made 21 appearances, including eight starts. Moving into non-league football, Shaw played over a century of games for Burton Albion scoring 26 goals.
The England C international then scored 20 goals in 37 games for Halifax Town in the Conference Premier during 2007/8 which secured a £50,000 move to Rochdale where opportunities were limited. Shaw had loan spells at Barrow and Gateshead before joining Mansfield and then Gateshead on a two-year contract.
10. Jonny Allan - Forward
- Date of Birth:
- 24/05/1983
- Previous Clubs:
- Carlisle United, Northwich Victoria
Allan joined Gateshead during the close season after eight impressive years at Northwich Victoria where he scored 82 goals in 234 appearances, and featured in the Vics FA Cup win over Charlton Athletic last season.
A Northwich legend, Allan was the Vics top scorer during the club's promotion from the Conference North in 2006. The 27 year old Cumbrian's career had earlier began at Carlisle United where he played 31 games as a youngster, the majority off the bench.
17. Brian Wake - Forward
- Date of Birth:
- 13/08/1982
- Previous Clubs:
- Carlisle United, Gretna, Scarborough, Hamilton Academical, Greenock Morton
Wake returned to English football in January 2010 when he joined Gateshead from Scottish 1st division club Greenock Morton - his last game a narrow Scottish Cup defeat against Celtic.
Originally with Tow Law Town Wake's first professional club was Carlisle United where his hat-trick at Shrewsbury in 2004 kept the Cumbrians in the Football League. A season at Gretna, where he averaged a goal every two games, was then followed by a brief spell at Scarborough. A season and a half at Hamilton Academical, where he made 29 starts and 47 substitute appearances, saw the 27 year old join Morton in January 2008 and then Gateshead.
18. Nathan Fisher - Forward
- Previous Clubs:
- Middlesbrough, Gretna, Durham City, Consett, Chester-le-Street Town
The 21 year old striker signed for Gateshead for a £3,000 fee during the summer after a prolific season at Northern League club Chester-le-Street Town. In a relegation season for the Cestrians Fisher hit a phenomenal 44 goals in 49 games.
The leading scorer for Middlesbrough's Academy side in 2006/7 he subsequently joined then SPL outfit Gretna, making one substitute appearance, before playing briefly for Durham City and then Chester-le-Street.
