Match Preview: Gateshead FC Supporters Society

Next up ‘On the Road’ for the Heed is a trip to the West Midlands, as we take on Solihull Moors. It’s a 404-mile round trip from Gateshead to the ARMCO Arena on Saturday.  

Chris Millington’s side come into Saturday’s game 11th in the National League, with just two wins from their last ten league games. Last time out, The Moors took a point from their trip to Essex, in a 0-0 draw with Braintree Town.

Former Heed loanee Alex Whitmore and popular midfielder Ben Worman both featured in that game for Solihull Moors, meanwhile ex-Moors defender Brad Nicholson will be making his first return to Damson Park since his move north to Gateshead.   

We’ve Met Before

In the most recent meeting between these two sides, The Moors returned to the West Midlands with all three points, back in November 2025. Second half goals from Bradley Stevenson and Jacob Wakeling sealed a 2-0 win for Solihull. 

In May 2024, courtesy of a decisive Dajaune Brown penalty, Gateshead lifted the FA Trophy for the first time in our history, a 5-4 win on penalties following extra time (2-2).  

Travel & Ticketing Information

The ARMCO Arena is not easily particularly easy to access, and if you’re using public transport, we’d recommend you hop on a bus from the Railway Station to the ground, or you’ll find yourself with a long walk.  

If you’re heading down by rail, the nearest station is Birmingham International, served by Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Transport for Wales and West Midlands Railway.  

There is an ongoing programme of engineering works affecting the East Coast Mainline between Durham and Northallerton, and on the line between York and Leeds, therefore, it is not possible to travel direct to Birmingham from Newcastle on Saturday, without taking two Rail Replacement coaches.

As such, the easiest and quickest way to travel to the game using the train on Saturday is to catch a Northern service from Newcastle to Carlisle, then an Avanti West Coast service from Carlisle to Birmingham International, and vice-versa for your return.  

As noted above, it’s quite a hike from the station to Damson Park, so the bus route past the stadium is the X12 (National Express West Midlands), with services around every 20 minutes during the day. The nearest stop is Old Damson Lane and is right outside the stadium.  

If you’re travelling by car, then from the North, Leave the M42 at Junction 6 and follow the A45 for 2 miles towards Birmingham. Go past Birmingham Airport on your right and then past the Allen Kia Garage on your left. At the traffic lights, take the left-hand filter lane onto Damson Parkway.

Continue for approximately 1 mile until you reach the roundabout at the entrance to the Jaguar Land Rover Works. Go around the roundabout and back down the other side of the dual carriageway for 100 yards to the ground entrance on your left.  

It’s recommend to reserve a parking space via the Solihull website (here) prior to the game as the immediate area around the ground is a ‘red route’, and on a dual-carriageway. Please don’t park here, unless you want to bring the surrounding area to a standstill. If you like a last-minute dash, it might be worth getting to the ground a little earlier than you usually would to find a convenient parking space.  

All prices include a £1 booking fee. Tickets bought ahead of the fixture online here are priced at: 

Adult: £21.00

Concessions (65 years+): £17.00

16-24: £13.00

Under-16s: £9.00 

Under 12: FREE 

If you prefer to purchase your ticket on the day, you must do so from the ticket office, located on the right-hand side as you approach the stadium off Damson Parkway by the corner of The Damson Homes Stand and the home end (Jerroms Stand) terrace. 

Bars & Pubs

Solihull has a clubhouse just outside the ground which usually welcomes away supporters.  

The Damson – 15 minute walk from the ground. The Damson, Rowood Drive, Solihull, West Midlands, B92 5NG. Tel: 0121 7041414