Gateshead set for temporary move to South Shields

Gateshead Thunder are set to move to South Shields while their permanent home is unavailable.

The Gateshead International Stadium’s pitch is being re-laid, forcing Thunder out of their home until the end of July.

Filtrona Park, the home of South Shields FC, will host four games in the Championship 1 starting with Barrow Raiders on Sunday, June 17.

Thunder’s managing director Keith Christie says the fans and players will benefit from being closer to the pitch at Filtrona Park, rather than at their main home where an athletics track separates the fans from the pitch.

He said: “When the fans are closer to the pitch, the players get a buzz from it.”

“The spectators can hear and feel what the players are going through. The next step to this would be actually playing the game.”

Gateshead have not won a game in Championship 1 since defeating London Skolars in 2010. They have surpassed 56 league games without a win.

Christie insists the games at South Shields will be a fresh start for the club.

He said: “It’s definitely something that we need to do, and this is hopefully a step in the right direction.”

Gateshead’s other home games to be played at Filtrona Park include Rochdale Hornets on July 1, North Wales Crusaders on July 8, and London Skolars on July 22.