Gateshead looking to round off ‘unbelievable season’ with silverware in FA Trophy final

Experienced Gateshead FC defender Carl Magnay says the Heed are in good spirits heading into the biggest game of their season. Mike Williamson’s side have defied the odds to reach the final of a competition including plenty of former football league clubs and recently promoted Wrexham and Notts County.

The Tynesiders had to come through penalties in both the quarter-final and semi-final of the competition to set up a clash with FC Halifax Town this afternoon.

Magnay told Chronicle Live: “It’s been a while since the season finished and it’s been strange because we’ve had such a hectic end to the season cramming fixtures in, then we’ve had the time off. It’s given us some time off to prepare and really nail down what we need to do for the final.

READ MORE: ‘Unbreakable’ Gateshead FC end FA Trophy hoodoo to set up clash with Halifax Town in Wembley final

“It’s been great in terms of that. I think we feel really prepared, the boys are in good spirits and we’ve trained really well. We feel fit and it’s a great group to be a part of.

“They’re a young group but they just don’t seem fazed by any sort or pressure or anything so the overriding feeling is just excitement. We can’t wait for the day to arrive. It’s been an unbelievable season in terms of the amount of challenges, hurdles, obstacles that have been thrown our way.

“Being one of the more experienced players I pop in and out of the office and I get to experience first hand what the gaffer has to go through on a daily basis with Ian.

“Honestly, the amount of things that’s gone – not wrong, but how quickly they’ve had to react to players being unavailable, we had the point deduction, the amount of injuries to key players at the same time, I’ve never experienced that as a player.

“The amount of mental resilience to keep overcoming these hurdles has been incredible. To end up finishing the season the way we did and being really comfortable in the league, to then also have very limited players available for the Trophy to get to the Final, it’s incredible.

“It’s a huge marker from the group, the management staff, the toughness, resilience that we’re at this stage and we’re going to use all those qualities and try and put them into place on Sunday. The boys are really excited for it.”

The Heed were without a number of key players with injuries, while six players were cup tied at one stage in the campaign. It’s been far from plain sailing but Magnay is hoping a win in the FA Trophy would act as a springboard for next season.

He added: “I think the way this season worked out, once we had the core group of players fit, we started to take teams apart. We had to adapt to the league, it’s a lot more difficult to the National League North, teams are a lot more savvy and hard to break down.

“We always knew that once we got the core group back together, we’d cause teams problems and obviously with the added boost from the loan players, that’s exactly what happened in the second-half of the season.

“We’re going into next season really confident. A lot of the younger players have adjusted to the league and level and to be able to win on Sunday would be a huge confident booster going into next season and lets hope to be challenging up the top end of the table.”