Keeping the faith in North East rugby league

Hood has been a key figure at Gateshead for the past decade

By Matt Newsum

So far as the history of Gateshead Thunder Rugby League Club goes, director of rugby Chris Hood has seen it all.

Super League, merger with Hull FC, demotion to the Championship, financial struggle, numerous changes of ownership and the National League Two title - all have passed during Hood's time at the International Stadium.

It is down to the devotion of the Wallsend-born rugby league aficionado that Thunder continues to exist full-stop.

His intervention, in conjunction with chief executive Rod Findlay and commercial director Keith Christie, rescued the franchise when it seemed set to fold, after the club's previous ownership stood down.

Over a decade's worth of attachment clearly too much to let slip for the Northumbria University graduate.

"It's been a long time, and some people say there's a difference between dedication and devotion," Hood told BBC Sport.

"I know the potential and I know that what we are doing now is something that should have happened back when we were in Super League and the regimes that were in charge since then."

As an outpost of the 13-man game in the North East, outside its traditional heartlands, Thunder were seen as a curiosity, relying on imports when funds would allow and scraping for locally-based players when they did not.

Hood and his colleague Steve McCormack assembled such a side in securing safety in the Championship last season.

The line-up included a mix of classy multi-nationals and homegrown talents, with current Crusaders full-back Nick Youngquest and the Halifax duo of Luke Branighan and Dylan Nash alongside local lads including Matt Barron, Chris Parker and Robin Peers.

But that side was broken up in the winter amid the restructuring and having been demoted to Championship One by the Rugby Football League, Hood has worked hard to introduce a local focus, with a long-term view to development of the game in the region.

"We've been able to formulate a first team squad virtually from the North East all in a month period at the start of the year," Hood added.

"We've now completely intertwined with the regional talent development groups, so our coaches are working with the RFL for the best performers in the 12-15 group.

"We're starting our extended scholarship in under-16s, that starts at the end of the year.

"Our under-18s had their best season ever. We played our first reserve games and we've never ever had that, which is a travesty for the players and fans who support Gateshead Thunder.

"We know people in the North East involved in the game look at Gateshead Thunder, players aspire to play for the club, but it can't be how it was in the past with Gateshead Thunder leaning on the amateur clubs.

"For the first time we've got a mutually beneficial relationship, with local clubs like the Durham Tigers, Peterlee Pumas, Jarrow Vikings, Cramlington Rockets -relationships we've never had before.

"The big thing for me is that we're doing the right thing by the team, by the players and by the game."

Youngquest has gone onto impress in Super League with Crusaders

Hood makes no secret of his admiration for McCormack, the man whose arrival at Gateshead last season saw the Tynesider step down as head coach at the International Stadium, but remain on as his assistant.

While the former Widnes and Whitehaven coach moved on following the financial upheaval at the club during the winter to join Grand Final winners Barrow Raiders, the duo have kept in touch and the 29-year-old Hood sees the experienced Wiganer as a key ally.

"I get on with Steve McCormack like a house on fire, and I'm a better coach and better bloke for knowing Steve," he revealed.

"It was the right thing for the club and it was the right thing for Steve and I feel I've learned most out of dealing with myself, with players, fans, sponsors and the board and we still speak. I see him as a mentor."

Such a dramatic rebuilding process has taken its toll on the club's success on the field, with Thunder rooted to the foot of the Championship One table and saddled with a points deduction from the RFL for their off-the-field restructuring.

But Hood remains realistic about progress this season, particularly with an inexperienced squad in a competitive division.

"We said from the start we just wanted to get back to zero points, we started off on minus six, we're on minus two now," Hood admitted.

"We started late on pre-season. We rely on the goodwill of local players and lads travelling from Leeds, and what we give to them is nowhere near as what they give to us.

"The financial situation we have as a fledgling business, we can't pay the lads what I and the club feels that they're worth.

"I'm not going to be obtuse and say, 'we're going to have Super League' and all that. What we're living by at the minute is 'as long as we're better tomorrow than we were today' and that's the goal at the moment.

"As long as we have that outlook on our progression and continue to push the business and the club in that direction, I find it impossible not to be a success."