Non-League Football: Richardson's boost for Gateshead

Gateshead will be treading new territory if they beat Runcorn, last season's beaten finalists, at the International Stadium tomorrow to reach the semi-finals of the FA Trophy, writes Rupert Metcalf. However, their manager, Colin Richardson, knows all about winning cups at Wembley - he was in charge of Bridlington Town when they won the FA Vase last season, and of Whickham when they won the same tournament in 1981.

Richardson replaced the former Northern Ireland midfielder, Tommy Cassidy, at Gateshead in November, when the club were in a relegation position in the GM Vauxhall Conference. He has guided them towards mid-table security as well as to the last eight of the Trophy; they enjoyed an eight- game unbeaten run ended by Kidderminster's 2-0 win on Tyneside on Wednesday.

Gateshead are one of two North-east teams in the quarter- finals - Billingham Synthonia, a Northern League club who have already knocked out Kettering and Macclesfield, travel to Woking. In the other ties, Guiseley entertain their Northern Premier League rivals, Morecambe, while Graham Roberts' Enfield side cross London to Sutton United.