Gateshead Boss Cheers On South Shields Despite Future Headaches
Rob Elliot admits backing his neighbours for promotion might come back to bite him, as South Shields prepare for their National League North play-off semi-final against Buxton.
You have to admire Rob Elliot's commitment to regional solidarity, even if it might leave him questioning his life choices come next season. The Gateshead manager has thrown his weight behind South Shields' promotion push to the National League, despite freely acknowledging that having another ambitious outfit on his doorstep would make his own job considerably more awkward.
South Shields head to the 1st Cloud Arena this Saturday for their National League North play-off semi-final against Buxton, carrying the hopes of the North East and, rather touchingly, their potential future rivals. It's the sort of sporting magnanimity that would make you believe in the beautiful game again, if you weren't already wondering whether Elliot might regret his charitable spirit when the fixtures are announced.
Ian Watson's side will be nursing the sting of missing out on automatic promotion last weekend, stumbling to a 1-0 defeat that cost them the National League North title when it mattered most. The cruel mathematics of football have left them with the lottery of the play-offs instead of the certainty they'd almost grasped.
Still, if there's one thing the play-offs guarantee, it's drama – and Elliot seems genuinely keen to add what he calls 'a little bit of spice' to proceedings, even if that spice might end up burning him next season. His frank admission that South Shields would make things 'tough' for Gateshead in the National League suggests he's either remarkably confident in his own team's abilities or possesses the sort of sporting romanticism that's increasingly rare in modern football.
The irony isn't lost that Elliot's endorsement comes with a built-in confession of concern. Supporting your neighbours while simultaneously bracing for the competitive headache they might cause is peak non-league politeness – backing someone's dreams while quietly hoping they don't become your nightmare.
For South Shields, the focus will be on navigating past Buxton first, with the disappointment of last weekend's title slip providing either motivation or baggage. Watson will be hoping his players can channel their frustration into the sort of performance that makes Elliot's generous backing look prescient rather than premature.
Whether the Gateshead manager's regional cheerleading proves to be shrewd psychology or misguided altruism remains to be seen. Either way, Saturday's clash at Buxton promises to deliver the drama that makes the play-offs such compulsive viewing – even for those who might later regret their enthusiasm.