Ground name: Gateshead International Stadium
Address: Neilson Road, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE10 0EF

Home to: Gateshead Thunder and Gateshead FC
Capacity: 11,800
Record attendance: 6,631 against Bradford, May 16 1999

Description of the ground: Primarily an athletics stadium, you are situated quite a distance from the pitch. All fans are usually situated in the main stand, which is covered and holds 3,300. A problem Gateshead have is that there are no corporate facilities in this stand, which deprives them of a useful revenue stream. You can enter the ground near the main reception, and it’s quite different to usual experiences in that you feel like you’re inside a building rather than a sports stadium. There is a small room with a merchandise desk and then a canteen style bar that sells food and drink. Seats are unreserved and the fans generally mix. The main scoreboard isn’t usually working, but a temporary scoreboard is in place at the end of the running track. Quite a similar experience to Sheffield’s Don Valley Stadium, it’s hard for atmosphere to be generated as it escapes in to the open.

Transport (bus, rail, car etc): The ground is situated just off the A184. There is also a station near to the ground on the Tyne and Wear Metro. In recent years, the club has run numerous promotions with the metro to provide free travel for season ticket holders.

Parking: There is a free car park outside the main stand. This is more than adequate for regular league matches, but there are industrial estates surrounding the ground where other parking locations can be found.

Food & drink (inside and outside the ground): There are pies, hot dogs, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available inside the ground.