Match Preview | Gateshead (H)

A look into 'The Heed'  

Forest Green Rovers take on Gateshead at GL6 as they look to make it back-to-back wins.  

The visitors arrive in Gloucestershire after a tough start to the season, picking up just four points in their opening six games, sitting in the bottom four.  

Rovers were the victors the last time the two sides met, with a 2-0 away win on Tyneside.  

Here is all you need to know about Gateshead before the 15:00 kick-off on Saturday, 12th September.   

The Opposition – Gateshead  

Nickname – The Heed  

Year Founded - (* Present-day Gateshead) 1977  

League Position – 22nd (4 points)  

Gateshead currently lie in the relegation zone of the Enterprise National League after the first six games.  

This season marks the Northerners' fifth season back in the division after promotion from the National League North in 2021/22.  

A 2-0 win against Woking is the away side's only win so far this campaign.  

The Heed have experienced four defeats against Eastleigh, Yeovil, Sutton United and Harrogate Town.  

In their last outing, Gateshead clinched a 1-1 draw after Michael Spellman scored a 94th-minute equaliser to pick up their fourth point against fellow strugglers, Solihull Moors.

The Manager – Lee Cattermole  

Lee Cattermole joined the Tynesiders in June after former manager Rob Elliot left after his side survived relegation last season.  

Gateshead is Cattermole's first senior managerial job after he retired as a player in 2020 before a move into coaching.   

The 38-year-old has held various coaching roles, including at Middlesbrough, Burnley, Bristol Rovers and the Northern Irish FA.  

The former Sunderland midfielder signed a two-year deal this summer but has experienced a hard start to his Gateshead tenure.  

One to Watch – Michael Spellman  

Michael Spellman joined Gateshead this season from Newport County after he featured in 35 league games for the South Wales outfit.  

Spellman netted five goals in League Two last season.  

The 23-year-old grabbed his first for Cattermole's team late on against Solihull Moors as a second-half substitute to secure a draw.   

Spellman was a former youth prospect at Sunderland before the expiration of his contract in the 2023/24 season.  

Head-to-Head (Previous Six) 

28/02/26 - Gateshead 0 – 2 FGR (Knowles 4' & Nwoko 56')  

15/11/25 FGR 3-1 Gateshead (Buyabu 12', Babalola 25' & Clarke 45')  

12/04/25 FGR 2-3 Gateshead (Shelvey (OG) 87' & Doidge 90+4')  

21/09/24 Gateshead 0-2 FGR (Sercombe 6' & Doidge 90+7') 

18/2/17 Gateshead 3-1 FGR (Woolery 49’) 

13/8/16 FGR 1-0 Gateshead (Bennett 90’)