Good Luck Gateshead!

The long-rumoured Nationwide North play-offs begin today, with Brackley, Chester, Gateshead and Altrincham vying for the right to take on York and Boston, for the further right to play Kings Lynn again next year in front of their dozen travelling thugs.

County loyalties suggest Poppies fans should support Brackley's push for promotion, but I don't want them putting us firmly back into third place in the County pecking order.  And I didn't rate them when we played them at their place.  At all.  And Dan Holman is a scabby Judas.

Old rivalry loyalty should tip us towards backing Alty or Boston, but they are both good, traditional away trips, so no dice there.  Already looking forward to going back there next season.

We are exposed to so little culture these days that we can scarcely afford to lose either York or Chester, so they're out.

That leaves entirely unloved Gateshead, where it's too far a trip to be sat in a stand that's too large, watching a game from too far away.  F*ck Gateshead, and all the best to them in the play-offs!

Gateshead FC - successfully social distancing
for over forty years