In 2014-15 Darlington 1883 beat Gateshead en route to their best-ever run in the FA Youth Cup.
And, having drawn their neighbours again this term in the first qualifying round, boss Andrew Jinks is hopeful of even greater progress.
The 27-year-old has guided his team to five wins from five in the Durham Under-18s Saturday League, with central defender James Marley and lively midfielder Nathan Stephenson proving the bedrock of the side.
Gateshead v Darlington 1883
FA Youth Cup
First Round Qualifying
7.30pm, Monday 21 September
International Stadium, Gateshead
And Jinks is hopeful the Quakers can carry that momentum into the Cup.
“It’s been a pleasing start to the season, the lads have really kicked on and we’re hoping to go further than we’ve ever been in the FA Youth Cup,” said Jinks, whose team reached the second qualifying round last season before losing to Seaham Red Star.
“We tend to draw Gateshead every year. Last season we certainly weren’t expected to win and ended up beating them 3-0. There’s a bit of a rivalry as the lads know each other and I’m sure it will be the same on Monday.
“All of our lads are 18 this year; a year older and wiser and hopefully we can go and progress past Gateshead again and then past the second round qualifying for the first time since we went into administration.”
Jinks estimates “60 per cent” of his players could progress through first-team manager Martin Gray’s Football Academy, for which he has also worked for the last four years.
Similarly, much of opponents Gateshead’s top talent are attracted to the club through their association with Gateshead College.
Current first-team players Rob Ramshaw and Josh Gillies trod that path, as did Mechack Kanda who featured in the club’s run to the FA Youth Cup third-round proper in 2012/13.
“We lost to Darlington last year, so we are expecting a tough game”
John Gamble Gateshead U18s manager
Gateshead’s youngsters have long been the team to beat in the north east, having won the Youth Alliance North Division title for four years in a row.
And coach John Gamble, who succeeded Paul Bryson at the helm in the close season, is excited to see who of his current crop can take their chance to shine when they run out at the International Stadium on Monday.
“We have a very good name in the area, so a lot of lads come to us,” said Gamble.
“We’ve had a great side in the past, who have done well in the league and cup, but everybody seems to be catching us up now, so it’s become a bigger challenge and we need players to step up.
“We lost to Darlington last year, so we are expecting a tough game. They have started off their season well, but we want to give them a good game.
“We’ve got a strong group, I just think sometimes scoring goals might be a problem.
“We have a very competitive bunch, who are well organised. Whereas we’ve had standout groups in the past, this is a competitive one.”
