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Loyalties put on hold for Cats showdown
GATESHEAD'S James Curtis
and Kris Gate won't have too long
to celebrate going up to the Blue
Square North with the pair facing
another showcase game tomorrow
night.
A win over Buxton on Saturday
in the play-off final secured
promotion with Gate on target in
the 2-0 success.
Gateshead round off their
campaign when they take on Premier
League side Sunderland at
the Stadium of Light, in the final
of the Newton Moor Durham
Challenge Cup Final.
It will be a prove a strange
prospect for team-mates Curtis, a
Sunderland fan, and Newcastle
supporter Gate, who will have to
put their North-East rivalry to
one side for 90 minutes as they
bid to lift the famous trophy.
"I can't wait. Being a Sunderland
fan, it's one of my dreams
to play at the Stadium of Light,"
said 26-year-old centre-back Curtis,
from Tunstall in Sunderland.
"I played at Roker Park when I
was younger and the biggest
ground I've played at more recently
is probably Telford, which
holds about 8,000, but nothing on
this scale, so it should be great.
Centre midfielder Gate, 23,
from Walkergate in Newcastle,
was on United's books until he
was released last summer to join
Gateshead.
"It doesn't get any bigger for a
Geordie," he admitted. "I was released
by Newcastle last year and
joined Gateshead, and we've had
a great season.
"If there's a chance for me to
get back into professional football
I'd grab it, so an opportunity
to play in a game like this at the
Stadium of Light is great.
"It could also be a great stepping
stone for Gateshead, to win
this final at the stadium, it would
be massive for the club."
Curtis admits there's been
some banter in the Gateshead
dressing room, which predominantly
consists of Magpies supporters,
in the build-up to Tuesday's
final.
But he reckons the UniBond
League outfit, who finished third
in the table to qualify for the
play-offs, have a good chance of
beating their Premier League
neighbours.
He said: "We've got one of two
experienced players but it's mostly
young lads.
"We like to play football so it
should be a good game and I
think we're in with a chance of
winning."
■ Tuesday's final at the Stadium
of Light kicks off at 7pm. Tickets
are priced £5 adults and £2
concessions, and are available
from the SAFC ticket office and
Durham County FA.
Call 0845 671 1973 or 0191 433
5700 or email
info@durhamfa.com
9:57am Monday 5th May 2008
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