The following excerpt is taken from Issue 247 of our match day programme HeedLines, sold at our Izuzu FA Trophy fourth round fixture against Boston United on Saturday, January 4.
The New Year sees Carl Magnay enter a fresh 12 months as a manager for the first time in his career.
After transitioning from a playing role to a coaching one in 2023, before departing Tyneside for MK Dons – and then Carlisle United – in the summer, Magnay returned home in an entirely new role as Gateshead Football Club’s head honcho in October.
The trials and tribulations of management have been a learning curve, by Magnay’s own admission, but The Heed remain firmly on course to challenge for potential promotion at the season’s midway point.
“It’s been a big risk for me to do this,” said Magnay.
“I’m giving my absolute all to be successful for the club, and people need to know that, but also that I’m still learning a lot.
“I’m a young manager and I’m going to make mistakes – I’ve been honest that I have made mistakes already.
“Some of my mates who recommended that I take the job told me that I’d learn so quickly, and they were right.
“I’m really honest and open with my interviews, and the feedback that I give is not only about the players, but about myself as a manager.
“Anything the players aren’t doing means I have to look inwards and make sure I’m doing everything I can first and foremost.
“The first few games were great, but after that a couple of players were perhaps out of position, and I possibly didn’t know the squad as well as I thought I did.
“Since then, it’s been about getting to know the boys’ strengths, putting them in the right places and delivering the right messages.
“I’m in a place at the moment where I’m confident delivering what I want, and the players are understanding that and getting on board with it as well.
“I can only see that as a positive, and I’m really looking forward to the second half of the season.”
Such is the pressure and expectation of management in professional football though, that it is perhaps easy to forget that football is, at the end of the day, a game to simply be enjoyed.
That word however, is not quite the one Magnay would use when reflecting on his position.
“Enjoyment probably isn’t the word, but it’s certainly a position that I’m privileged to be in,” he added.
“I try to enjoy it as much as I can, but there’s so much responsibility that you put on yourself.
“I’m desperate to do well for this club, and the fans – I’m a fan myself as well as a local lad.
Photo: Emilio Kirtley
“While it’s a nice thing being a manager of a club you’ve got such an affinity with, it also brings huge personal pressure more than anything, so enjoyment is probably not how I would describe it.
“You have moments, particularly when you win, but I think it’s more relief than anything.
“I’m so conscious of getting this club to where it wants to be, and where the players deserve to be, that the wins are just pure relief.
“I’ve learned that when things aren’t going well people are very quick to give their opinions, which is football and you just have to ride with that, so there’s a lot to contend with.
“Hopefully mistakes will be few and far between, though I can’t guarantee that with the way the game unfolds, but I’m certainly making sure I’m putting everything into the job.”
