A dedicated Gateshead football fan who has served as a mascot and a ball girl for her favourite club has been back on the pitch to collect a special prize autographed by her team.Suzanne McGuigan was chosen as the winner of a Gateshead Football Club shirt that had been signed by all of the Vanarama National League club’s players in a competition organised by Newcastle Building Society.
And having been the team mascot 19 years ago, season ticket holder Suzanne, who lives in Blaydon, went back onto the Gateshead pitch before the recent match with Altrincham to collect her prize from long-serving player James Curtis.
The competition was set up by Newcastle Building Society as part of its sponsorship of Gateshead FC, which has just been renewed this year for a second season and which sees the Society’s logo on the club’s training kit, as well as around the ground. A second signed shirt was won in the competition by Mickey Barass.
Suzanne McGuigan, who has also been a ball girl for Gateshead in the past, says: “I’ve been going along to watch the team for over 20 years and get to every match I can, so this is a prize that I’m really thrilled to have won.
“I was a bit starstruck when I was receiving my shirt from James, who I’ve watched him play hundreds of times over the years, and probably didn’t make too much sense when I was talking to him!
“He’s a nice lad and has been so loyal to the club, so that made a good day even better.”
Christine Heslop, marketing communications manager at Newcastle Building Society, adds: “Gateshead is a terrific community club in an area where we have some branches, and it fits really well with our own ethos of giving back to the communities in which we’re based. Our partnership worked very well last year and we’re very pleased to have renewed it for the 2015-16 season.
“The team has made a solid start to the season and we’re behind them all the way as they push to get into the Football League.”
Grahame McDonnell, commercial director at Gateshead Football Club, says: “The Society logo is visible everywhere that we train and play, and having their support is very good for the Gateshead Football Club brand, as well as, we hope, theirs too.
“Gateshead Football Club is a community-focused club and we are delighted to be working with Newcastle Building Society.”