2002 Season

Fixtures & Results 2001
Press Releases & Match Reports
Season Review and Presentations

Fixtures & Results 2002

Division One Alignments 2002

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Press Releases & Match Reports

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Senators in "top 1000" sites

The magazine "Its on the net", in the spring 2002 issue (issue 7) rated this site as one of the top 1000 websites. When one considers that there are in excess of a billion websites, that's not bad going!

The item was on page 130 under Sport and American Football and gave the wrong address because of a misprint. (They have been told.)

It says as a description, "Well known Gateshead Senators team with fixture list" and the star section was "easy Q and A's" .

One might disagree about the "star section" - how about the 1999 final game report? - but thanks anyway, "Its on the net".

28 Feb 2002
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2002 Division alignments announced

The Senators will face some familiar opponents in Division One Northern Conference. Nottingham Caesars drop to Division Two (but probably not for long!) and Lancashire Wolverines return to the top division. The season will be ten games, playing each team at home and away.

Senators' home games are tentatively fixed for 12 May, 19 May, 2 June, 16 June and 7 July, but these depend on stadium bookings and are almost certain to be varied before the final fixture list is published.

It is hoped to arrange some pre-season matches.

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www.gateshead-senators.co.uk

Gateshead Senators have a new domain name reflecting the name of the club. This action was taken partly for reasons of PR, partly because the size of the ever growing website means it may have to move yet again at some point in the future.

The Senators' website starting six years ago as a relatively small site hosted on AOL (remember that "gatsen" URL?) but has moved twice since, with all the changing and notification that this entails. By using our own domain, wherever the site is hosted, the URL to access it will remain constant.

The old URL will continue to work at least for the time being, but it might be best to change that bookmark/favorites entry before you forget.

25 January 2002
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2002 Fixtures announced

Late rush in ten game schedule

The Senators face a ten game season in 2002, five at home and five away. Tough opponents East Kilbride are met at home and away in the earlier part of the schedule, with a gap of a few weeks, but the season ends with a bang, five games in as many weeks, including Birmingham Bulls home and away just two weeks apart. Good news is that at no time is the club "on the road" two weeks in succession, giving more balance to the season. The ten game schedule finishes for Gateshead on 21 July, before some other teams, so the Senators may be left waiting for others results before the playoff picture is clear.

05 Feb 2002
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Roman triumph over Senators

Chester Romans 31 Gateshead Senators 15

Report from Gary Marshall

On a bright sunny afternoon in Chester, the dedicated few that made the long journey took the field. Gateshead kicked off to Chester who started at their own twenty. After running several plays and gaining only one first down, Chester fooled the defence on a fourth and four with a punt fake. This punt fake resulted in the Romans marching all the way to the five-yard line. They were then stunted by the Gateshead defence and had to settle for a twelve-yard field goal. Gateshead first possession of the game soon ended with a punt deep into Chester territory, on the first play of their next drive, Chester were picked off by Mark Sloan who returned the ball five yards to the Chester twenty nine.

John Harrison

With David Nimmins moving to receiver and Lee Fraser returning as quarterback, the second half started much the way of the first. The drive stalled and resulted in an excellent forty-seven yard punt to put the Romans deep in their own half. The fired up Gateshead 'D' then stopped the runner for a loss and sacked the quarterback in consecutive plays. This drive resulted in a punt, which again Gateshead failed to capitalize on. The Gateshead 'D' again stood firm and the resulting punt allowed Gateshead to string eleven plays together to get the ball down to the Romans three-yard line. The gods were on the Romans side that day as Gateshead then turned the ball over through a fumble on the two-yard line

The Romans then ground the ball out to get to the Romans thirty-two. A broken play from this position allowed the Romans to score again to make the score 23-7, which was then followed up with a successful pat to make the score 24-7 towards the end of the third quarter. On the following drive, after taking a sack, Lee Fraser threw a costly interception as it was ran back in from twenty yards out to make the score 31-7 early in the fourth. Gateshead then put a quick drive together as time ran down to move seventy-five yards in two plays to score with 1 minute 32 seconds remaining, John Harrison scoring his second TD of the day following David Wilson's excellent catch. The two-point conversion was good which at the final whistle made the score a disappointing 31-15 to the Romans.

12 May 2002
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Scots' score scrapes past

Report by Gary Thompson

On Saturday 18 May, in appalling weather, two good football teams came head to head in a rain soaked stadium. After receiving the ball and driving into rain, East Kilbride went three and out, and had to punt to Gateshead. Starting their first drive of the game on their own thirty, Gateshead tried unsuccessfully in the driving rain to move the ball. After going three and out, Gary Marshall punted the ball deep into Kilbride territory forcing the Scots to start their next drive on the eight-yard line. Kilbride then strung a sixty-yard, ten play drive together to get to the Gateshead twenty-two. After losing last week, the fired up Gateshead 'D' stood firm and the ball was turned over on downs to give the Gateshead offense another shot. As the weather deteriorated, Gateshead offense again went three and out, another excellent punt from Marshall ended the first quarter with no score.

Starting the second quarter on their own nine-yard line, the next Scottish drive was snuffed out on three and five when Mickey Thompson batted the ball down from the Kilbride receiver to force the punt. The ball then changed hands several times. The following Scottish drive that threatened came from a short punt into driving rain that was returned to the Gateshead forty-yard line. After a twenty-four yard pass down to the thirteen and with time running out in the half, Scotland went for glory with a pass to the left corner of the end zone. This was picked off by Wimmie van Tergouw and returned through the melee to the nine-yard line. Gateshead again could not move the ball and the half ended with the scores 0-0.

Wimmie van Tergouw

As a bystander, this has been one of the most hard fought games seen and reminds me of the defensive struggles of yesteryear NFL teams. The commitment shown by the Gateshead team as a whole in adverse conditions deserves much praise.

Senators' MVPs

18 May 2002
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Redditch Routed

Both teams entered this game with something to prove, Redditch to lay the ghost of their two defeats by Gateshead last season and the Senators of their crushing defeat by East Kilbride two weeks earlier.

Dave Wilson goes in motion.

Mikey Rumney

Mickey Thompson pounds out the yardage.

Dave Wilson

Senators' MVPs

16 June 2002

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Lancs test Senators to the last

On a gusty day which made both passing and kicking problematical at times, Gateshead and Lancashire fought one of the closest and most nailbiting encounters in league history right to and beyond time expired.

Craig Million cuts back, David Nimmins in front.

Mark Lindsey and Dave Wilson see Craig Million battle into the EZ.

Buried beneath defenders, Mikey Rumney crosses the plane.	David Nimmins races into the endzone.

The second half started with Gateshead receiving the ball. Mikey Rumney's running formed the backbone of the first Senators' drive with a 26 yard gain, capped by a half yard TD run. Lee Fraser passed to Craig Million for the conversion, increasing the home team's lead to 26-14. The Wolverines' response was immediate with a 15 yard scoring run from Phil McGrath, and he obliged again with a 2 pt run to narrow the gap to 26-22. True to this see-saw game, Gateshead replied with David Nimmins (5 catches for 92 yds, 3TDs) catching a 34 yard scoring strike from Lee Fraser. The 2 point attempt failed, leaving the scoreline at the end of the third period 32-22.

Senators defense close in on Rob Tingle	Mark Lindsey breaks the plane.

After the change of ends, Lancashire came straight back with Rob Tingle's 2 yard TD run, which he repeated for the two points to bring the score to 32-30. Not content with a two point lead, Gateshead replied with another Lee Fraser strike from 11 yards to David Nimmins, followed by a Gary Marshall PAT to make the score 39-30. The Gateshead defense was caught out by QB Adam Purcell's "keeper" 12 yard run. Rob Tingle's run added the two points to bring Lancs to within one point, 39-38 at the two minute warning. But this astonishing game was far from over. Lee Fraser, (13 of 23 for 162 yds, 3TDs, 0 ints) who was not sacked at all in the game, again gave a demonstration of how to run a two minute offense, leading a drive that culminated in Mark Lindsey's run from the 2 yard line. Another Gary Marshall conversion kick made the score 46-38. Adam Purcell then gave a demonstration of his own to lead Lancashire downfield to the Gateshead 10 yard line with 3 seconds left on the clock. His pass to Neil Sullivan brought the score to 46-44. All that remained was for the untimed down of the conversion attempt. But Gateshead's defense held firm, denying Lancashire the draw and leaving Gateshead Senators narrow winners after the nerve-wracking finale of a remarkable game.

Senators' MVPs

23 June 2002
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Bulls batter sixteen Senators

Report by Gary Thompson

After a thrilling victory last weekend, Gateshead faced a long journey to the Midlands to play Birmingham. On a day where the Senators needed to stand up and be counted only sixteen players made the five-hour journey. After receiving the kick-off, Birmingham took just four plays to score with a run by Paul Powell. Gateshead seemed stunned after the point after and then went three and out on their first possession. After a Gary Marshall punt to the Birmingham forty-yard line, Birmingham quarterback Andy Sweeney constructed an eleven play, fifty-five yard drive. This culminated in a touchdown pass to receiver Mark Cohen in the left corner of the end zone to make the score 14-0 at the end of the first.

With Gateshead on the back foot and playing iron man football, the team knuckled down to solid running by Craig Million and Mike Rumney. The offence however could not gather any momentum on the next two drives and Birmingham added two more scores before the half.

Mark Sloan

With the end of the game in sight, Lee Fraser could not repeat his heroics of last week's two-minute drill to get points on the board. The game finished with another touchdown by Mark Cohen to make the final score Birmingham 56, Gateshead 0.

Gateshead however can hold their heads high, after a plucky performance where most players played both ways for three hours the team now face a home game to keep them in the playoff race. The Senators face Chester Romans at Gateshead Stadium with a score to settle after narrowly losing to the Romans earlier in the season.

30 June 2002
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Senators rule Romans

The Gateshead defense achieved their second shutout of the season against Chester Romans. The Romans received the ball at the kick off, but had to turn the ball over on downs. The rest of the first quarter was spent exchanging possession through punts or turnovers after 4th downs, amid a series of penalty flags.

Leading rusher Duncan French gets good blocking.

Craig Million at the end of his 53 yard score.

Duncan French's 4th quarter score

Senators' Head Coach Gary Marshall praised his team saying, "Congratulations to the whole offense who performed well and backed up the defense who so often save the game for us."

Senators' MVPs

7 July 2002
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Bulls battle to Beat Senators

Birmingham Bulls travelled to Gateshead for this end of regular season game, but if they were looking forward to a repeat of their 56-0 win over the Senators a few weeks earlier, they soon realised it was not be. This was hard fought game and the Bulls had to fight hard for their win.

The Bulls early optimism seemed justified when Leon Cordingly's scoring run put them in the lead, with the PAT taking the score to 0-7. Signs of a Senator revival came when Bryan Mann's long run toward the endzone was stopped by Craig Million at the 3 yard line. Two plays later Cordingly ran the ball in from the one yard line, but Gateshead drew extra heart when Andy Sweeney's PAT was blocked to keep the score at 0-13. Craig Million (6 tackles, 1 assist, 2 ints) again made his mark with an interception of a Sweeney pass, but as the quarter ended, the Senators had to punt.

Craig Million

In the second half, Gary Marshall had to punt the ball away again, but then Leon Cordingly caught the Senators' defense wrong footed and took the ball on a long run to the Gateshead 12 yard line. But again, the home defense denied the Bulls in another four down stand and Gateshead took the ball on downs as the third quarter ended, the score still at 3-13.

Mark Sloan refuses to let go of the interception.

This result almost certainly means the Senators' first playoff game will be away to London Olympians in two weeks time.

Senators' MVPs

21 July 2002
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Senators' Season Stopped

Report by Gary Thompson

"We few, we happy few..." (Photo: sent by Mark Sloan)

The Senators did just enough this season to earn the playoff spot with a 5-5 record, which ranked them 7th out of the 28 teams in the league.

This now was a chance to show the footballing community just what the Senators were made off. Only twelve players made the trip to London on the 8.30 train out of Newcastle, facing an almost impossible task. Meeting up with four more players from the Lancashire and Dutch contingent, Gateshead made their way to south London to face the as yet undefeated Olympians.

Rookie of the year, Rich Cowell

Mikey Rumney	Gary Catherall

Mark Sloan

Although Gateshead lost the game, the area should feel proud that we made the effort where so many others would have not. Gateshead Senators this season have shown that it's more than just a game. This reporter is proud to say that he feels part of the 'Sunday Family', a group of guys who train, play, drink and support each other. It's good to know that whatever else goes on in the world, every Sunday the family comes together to make the team strong and play football like brothers.

A Gateshead Senator family.

4 August 2002
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Presentation Night 2002

The Presentation Evening was held on Friday 27th September at the Schooner Inn, our excellent hospitality sponsors.

Club Chairman and Head Coach Gary Marshall introduced the evening by opening the AGM, which preceded the Presentations. Much of this was concerned with financial matters, as the club had ended the season owing some money, but also being owed money. The club is financially sound but there was an urgent need to address the problem of cash flow. After some discussion, the meeting voted overwhelmingly to introduce a new payments system for subscriptions. (See player information).

The team trophies

The trophies were then presented. The evening continued with an excellent meal provided by "The Schooner Inn" in the best tradition of Gateshead hospitality.

Rookie of the Year, Richard Cowell	Special Teams Player of the Year, John "Rapper" Lockhart

Offensive Player of the Year, Dave "Will" Wilson	Defensive Player of the Year, a surprised Mark Lindsey

Leading Tackler of the Year, Mark Sloan	Play of the season, Mike Rumney

Club Person of the Year, Gary Thompson	Players' Player, voted for by the players, Mark Sloan.

Barry Hicks presents the bouquet

Committee member Barry Hicks presented Debbie of the "the Schooner Inn" with a bouquet as a token of thanks for the support given to the Senators in 2002.

 
With apologies to Will Shakespeare - here's the amended, i.e. Senator, version of the Agincourt speech.

Rather proclaim it, Bill, through the Team,
That he which has no stomach to this fight
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And fare to Gateshead put into his purse;
We would not play in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to play with us.
This day is called the Feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tiptoe when this game is mentioned,
And rouse him at the name of the Os.
He that shall play in this game, and live old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours
And say, 'Tomorrow is Saint Crispian'
Then will he strip his jersey and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had at Southwark Park'
Old men forget, yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What plays he made that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words -
Sloany, in his final game, Harra playing on one leg,
Mikey, with his ferocious hits, Rapper flowing over the field,
Our brothers from Holland giving their all,
And everyone playing both sides of the ball -
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son,
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered -
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers,
For he today that plays this game with me,
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition.
And gentlemen in Gateshead now abed,
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

27 Sep 2002

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