Civic celebrations for Gateshead after FA Trophy win

Gateshead FC celebrating their win at Wembley Stadium

An official celebration will be staged to honour Gateshead’s FA Trophy victory, it has been announced.

Council leader Martin Gannon confirmed plans to mark the football club’s Wembley triumph with an event at the International Stadium, and the possibility of an open-top bus parade.

After the club’s penalty victory over Solihull Moors last Saturday, councillors were told a civic celebration was in the works, although details had yet to be finalised.

“There have been some discussions between the club and the council about how Gateshead might celebrate that magnificent achievement," Mr Gannon said.

He added: “There may be some details about an open-top bus, but there will be a celebration at Gateshead Stadium and there will be a civic event attended by the mayor on behalf of the council, for the players, their families, and club officials to celebrate the achievement.”

The announcement was made in the presence of the club’s vice-chairman, Councillor Bernard McWilliams.

The Heed, celebrating with their silverware, could make their way through Gateshead on an open-top bus, if plans are progressed

The historic trophy win was a moment of ecstasy for the club and its supporters, after a dramatic few weeks for the Heed that saw it embroiled in a saga involving the council and the English Football League (EFL).

Despite qualifying for the National League play-offs, the club was barred from a shot at promotion due to concerns it did not have a guaranteed 10-year lease on its council-owned stadium, where it has played since the 1971-72 season.

The move prompted an outcry and protests from fans, while Mr Gannon at the time stated there was "no reasonable reason to exclude the club from membership of the EFL”.

Civic centre leaders insisted they offered assurances the club would be granted the 10-year lease if promoted.

The Labour-led council is in the process of seeking a new operator to take over the stadium in an effort to cut costs, the Local Democracy Reporting Service understands.

An appeal by the club, which was supported by the National League, was rejected by an EFL arbitration panel.