Gateshead confirm Hartlepool-born businessman as new joint-owner

Hartlepool-born businessman Stephen Paylor has been confirmed as a new joint-owner at National League rivals Gateshead.

Lifelong Hartlepool United fan Paylor has spent the last two decades in the United States overseeing a number of successful business interests in Las Vegas and Arizona that included his Next Level Soccer coaching business and spent time as technical director of USL Championship club Phoenix Rising, who count Chelsea legend Didier Drogba and and former Newcastle United defender Peter Ramage amongst their former players.

However, Paylor will now play a part in helping Gateshead in their bid to move on from what has been a challenging 12 months on and off the pitch. Just under a year has passed since a proposed takeover by a consortium led by former Sunderland striker Victor Anichebe fell through in a move that triggered several key departures from the International Stadium and cast a shadow over a failed attempt to secure a National League play-off spot.

The current season has largely been one of struggle - but the return of former manager Rob Elliot and a number of new additions to his squad heralded a major upturn in form that took the Heed from 11 points adrift of safety in the relegation zone to comfortably securing their status in the top flight of non-league football on the back of a staggering run of results that included wins against York City and Scunthorpe United.

Elliot’s men will round off their season with a visit to Altrincham on Saturday. New joint-owner Paylor told the Gateshead website: “I do not know how to live a life without football. I still follow all of the North East teams, despite being 5,000 miles away, but for a long time the only one I could watch was Newcastle United in the Premier League. I follow the National League a lot having been born in Hartlepool, and in Gateshead I saw a club and community who had dealt with a lot after the challenges of the past year.

Spirit

“I also noticed a real spirit and strength from so many to stick together when things didn’t go well - you learn who people really are when times are hard. Of course, we all want to win. I tell the players I coach that winning is almost everything in sport, but how you win, who you are and how you treat others will always matter more. World class people will always be better than world class players. For me, football clubs are for the community, and I feel strongly about fan ownership an integration.

“Knowing some of the people behind the scenes at Gateshead FC and learning what they give daily to the club has been emotional for me to see. The soul and spirit of Gateshead FC and the resurgence of the last few months gave me hope that there are still people in today’s world who value loyalty, family and community first. Football clubs are a collection of people, their passion, loyalty, community and values. That isn’t something you can just buy. People aren’t for sale and neither are football clubs, but I will work to show my love and passion and hopefully win the respect of you all over time. If those values are part of a Geordie spirit, then you have something special already, and I’m ready to fight side by side with you all for that.”