Gateshead FC is delighted to confirm the appointment of Martin Smith to the club’s first team coaching staff.
Smith arrives at Gateshead to bolster manager Lee Cattermole’s coaching setup ahead of the 2026/27 season, joining first-team coach Ben Clark and goalkeeping coach Pete Jameson as part of The Heed’s footballing staff.
The 30-year-old most recently spent the 2025/26 season as a player with Enterprise National League North side South Shields, and called time on four years with The Mariners when he departed the club this summer.
Smith also spent a brief period at Gateshead as a player, appearing once in the National League in November 2015 during a short loan stint from Sunderland, and played in the Football League with Carlisle United, Hartlepool United, Salford City and Swindon Town during his playing career.
“I’m delighted to be here,” said Smith.
“The manager and the staff are in good form, so it’s exciting times ahead, and I’m really excited for what’s in front of us.
“I’ve known the gaffer for a long time, and we’ve connected in recent years purely around coaching and around football. He is a person where if you speak to him on the phone or in person, you come away feeling inspired to be better, he just has that natural aura about him.
“I feel really ready for the challenge, and if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be sat here. This was something I really wanted to be part of and create something special, and we’ll give everything to do that.”
Welcome to Gateshead, Smudge!
