They play in black and white and share the Tyne Bridge with the Geordies ... so what more could we want from a "second team"?
We (NU-Mad) made the trip to Wembley at the weekend and although I'm not suggesting for one minute it was as much fun as previous visits with Newcastle ... it was fun ... and the result was pretty much the same.
Ryan Donaldson
Gary Mills’ side have enjoyed a magnificent second half of the campaign but came up just short as they looked to end a 54-year wait to return to the Football League.
To make things worse, it was former Newcastle United trainee Ryan Donaldson, who helped Gateshead to stay in the division last season, who plunged the knife in by setting up Liam Hughes’ opener and then curling a brilliant free kick past Adam Bartlett.
A late goal from Jack Lester offered Gateshead hope and teed up a grandstand finish for the Tynesiders but it was not to be for Mills’ side as they staged a late comeback.