Player-Manager / Defender
Left the club in October 2023.
Williamson first joined up to train with the Heed during the 2018/19 pre-season schedule before being offered a contract at the club soon after.
In January 2019, Williamson was named as an official player-coach as part of newly named manager Ben Clark’s coaching team and would take on the role of player-manager later that summer.
Williamson guided the club to a Vanarama National League North play-off semi-final in his first season in charge and had The Heed in 10th place during the ill-fated 2020/21 season, two points away from the play-off places.
He led Gateshead to the Vanarama National League North title in his third season as manager after being ranked as 20/1 outsiders in pre-season, ending the 2021/22 season with 94 points and 99 goals scored.
He was also named as the National League North’s Manager of the Season following The Heed’s historic title-winning campaign.
Williamson guided Gateshead to a 14th-placed finish in their first season back in the National League the following season, and became the first manager to take the club to the FA Trophy final.
The player-manager called time on more than five years with the club in October 2023, departing to join League Two side MK Dons alongside Ian Watson and Chris Bell.
