A miracle appears to be now developing on Tyneside.
Newcastle United’s closest neighbours experiencing a remarkable transformation.
We reported on The Mag at the start of January, that Gateshead had reappointed former Newcastle United goalkeeper Rob Elliot as Manager.
The new year decision coming on the back of 11 defeats in a row for the Tyneside club. Gateshead at that point bottom of the National League.
Rob Elliot left Gateshead in October 2024 to take the job at League One Crawley Town but was sacked five months later, after only six wins in 33 games.
The former Newcastle United keeper was previously appointed Gateshead Manager in October 2023 and led Gateshead to a sixth placed finish in the National League that 2023/24 season.
This season, it was September 2025 when Gateshead had last won in the league and it looked an impossible task for the new (reappointed) Tynesiders boss.
On Valentine’s day, Gateshead lost 2-1 at home to Brackley.
Rob Elliot had continued The Heed’s ‘form’, his return starting with another five losses, that made it 13 defeats in a row for Gateshead in the National League, 16 losses in a row in all competitions.
Gateshead were guaranteed to be relegated.
After their Valentine’s day defeat, their National League record five and a half weeks ago was:
Played 29 Won 5 Drawn 4 Lost 20 and Gateshead on only 19 points.
Then something strange happened, something very strange.
After having lost 16 matches in a row, on 17 February 2026 this run of Gateshead results kicked off:
Halifax 1 Gateshead 2
Truro City 1 Gateshead 2
Gateshead 4 Morecambe 4
Gateshead 0 Forest Green 2
Gateshead 1 Braintree 0
Solihull Motors 1 Gateshead 2
Southend 1 Gateshead 1
Gateshead 1 Sutton 1
Gateshead 1 Wealdstone 0
Boreham Wood 3 Gateshead 0
Gateshead 3 York 1
Played 11 Won 6 Drawn 3 Lost 2
Somehow, Gateshead are now out of the relegation zone! In only five and a half weeks and 11 league matches, picking up another 21 points!
Tuesday night’s win has taken The Heed to fifth bottom of the National League on 40 points, two points clear of relegation with six games left to play.
Even more bizarre, York City are actually second in the table and would have gone top if winning last night!
Before Newcastle United next play (Crystal Palace away on Sunday 12 April), Gateshead will have played four of their six remaining National League matches.
As well as away games at Carlisle (3 April) and Aldershot (11 April), they also have two home matches before NUFC play again.
If possible, get yourself along to Gateshead and support our neighbours, as they look to complete an astonishing great escape under Rob Elliot.
It is a 3pm kick-off this Saturday 28 March against Yeovil Town, then 3pm on Monday 6 April against Scunthorpe United.