Former Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole will go head-to-head with Jermain Defoe’s Woking during his first season in charge of Gateshead.
Former Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole will meet some very familiar faces as his Gateshead side embark on their new National League campaign.
Cattermole landed his first full managerial role when he was named as successor to former Newcastle United goalkeeper Rob Elliot last month and he has been working to prepare his squad for his first season in charge at the International Stadium. The former Black Cats midfielder saw his side earn a 6-0 win at Northern League club Blyth Town in their opening pre-season friendly on Tuesday and they will head to Heaton Stannington for another warmup fixture on Saturday before turning their focus towards a short trip to National League North newcomers Hebburn Town on Tuesday.
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However, the competitive action will get underway on Saturday, August 8 when Cattermole’s Heed side make the long trip to the south coast to face Eastleigh on the opening day of the National League season. That will mean Cattermole facing a club owned by former Sunderland major shareholder chairman Stewart Donald after he returned to the Spitfires in 2023 just a month before selling his remaining Black Cats shares to current owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus.
Cattermole’s first competitive home game in charge of Gateshead will see Jermain Defoe’s Woking visit the International Stadium on Saturday, August 15 as the two former Sunderland team-mates face off for the first time. Defoe was named as Cards boss during the final months of last season and already has a win over Gateshead on his record after Woking claimed a 3-0 victory on the south bank of the Tyne in April.
Cattermole and Defoe appeared for Sunderland together on 45 occasions during their time at the Stadium of Light and that included two Wear-Tyne derby wins against Newcastle United and home wins against Chelsea and Everton that condemned the Magpies to relegation into the Championship during the final weeks of the 2015/16 Premier League season.
There are several other intriguing fixtures for Cattermole and his Heed squad as they face Rob Elliot’s Carlisle United at the International Stadium on Boxing Day before the return fixture takes place at Brunton Park on Easter Monday. Another former Sunderland midfielder, Lee Clark, will head to Gateshead with his Hartlepool United side on Saturday, November 21 and the Heed visit the Vic on Saturday, February 6.
Gateshead’s 2026/27 National League fixtures
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Jack McGraghan
Sat Aug 8 Eastleigh A
Sat Aug 15 Woking H
Sat Aug 22 Yeovil Town A
Fri Aug 28 Sutton United H
Mon Aug 31 Harrogate Town A
Sat Sep 5 Solihull Moors H
Sat Sep 12 Forest Green Rovers A
Wed Sep 16 Kidderminster Harriers A
Sat Sep 19 Southend United H
Sat Sep 26 Wealdstone A
Tue Sep 29 Altrincham H
Sat Oct 3 Worthing H Emirates FA Cup 3Q
Sat Oct 10 FC Halifax Town A
Sat Oct 17 Emirates FA Cup 4Q
Fri Oct 23 Tamworth H
Tue Oct 27 Boston United A
Sat Oct 31 Aldershot Town A
Sat Nov 7 Emirates FA Cup 1
Sat Nov 14 Barrow H Isuzu FA Trophy 2
Sat Nov 21 Hartlepool United H
Tue Nov 24 Scunthorpe United A
Sat Nov 28 Boreham Wood A
Sat Dec 5 Hornchurch H Emirates FA Cup 2
Wed Dec 9 FC Halifax Town H
Sat Dec 12 Isuzu FA Trophy 3
Sat Dec 19 Worthing A
Sat Dec 26 Carlisle United H Boxing Day
Mon Dec 28 AFC Fylde A
Sat Jan 2 Tamworth A
Sat Jan 9 Boston United H Emirates FA Cup 3
Sat Jan 16 Isuzu FA Trophy 4
Sat Jan 23 Woking A
Tue Jan 26 Scunthorpe United H
Sat Jan 30 Eastleigh H
Sat Feb 6 Hartlepool United A Isuzu FA Trophy 5
Sat Feb 13 Wealdstone H Emirates FA Cup 4
Tue Feb 16 Altrincham A
Sat Feb 20 Southend United A
Tue Feb 23 Kidderminster Harriers H
Sat Feb 27 Yeovil Town H
Sat Mar 6 Sutton United A Emirates FA Cup 5 / Isuzu FA Trophy 6
Tue Mar 9 Harrogate Town H
Sat Mar 13 Solihull Moors A
Sat Mar 20 Forest Green Rovers H
Fri Mar 26 AFC Fylde H
Mon Mar 29 Carlisle United A
Sat Apr 3 Aldershot Town H Emirates FA Cup 6 / Isuzu FA Trophy Semi Final
Sat Apr 10 Barrow A
Sat Apr 17 Hornchurch A
Sat Apr 24 Boreham Wood H Emirates FA Cup Semi Final
Sun May 16 Isuzu FA Trophy Final
Sat May 22 Emirates FA Cup Final
Fixtures are subject to change.
Compiled in association with Atos.
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