Thunder have a local core of players, headed by Ryan Clarke (right)

By Matt Newsum BBC Newcastle

Green shoots of recovery are emerging at Gateshead Thunder.

The north east's only professional rugby league club come into the 2011 Championship One season refreshed after a tumultuous 2010 campaign.

It was a season which started with a 10 point penalty for entering administration, and ended with the club rooted to the foot of the table with just one win all season.

However the winter break has seen changes galore at the club.

Chris Hood has switched from coaching to a director of rugby role, with former Castleford academy coach Richard Pell stepping into the post, while on the field local talent has been sourced largely from the growing amateur scene.

"It was atrocious really," captain Jason Payne told BBC Newcastle. "Nobody thought it was going to be that bad.

"The points deduction didn't do us any favours, but we weren't up to it.

"We struggled with the side, the quality of players wasn't good, but looking forward we've brought some good players in this year and my expectations are quite high.

Payne was appointed Thunder captain for 2011

"We've brought a few guys in from the local universities, a few really good players have come up here for their studies, and they've amazed everybody how well they're doing.

"There's so much local talent in rugby league compared to a few years ago, and in a squad of 44 we have 16 north-east players.

"It speaks volumes for the community side of things that we're doing, and hopefully we can keep building on that."

Pell's appointment at the International Stadium is a new step, having previously been involved with academy and youth set-ups while at Wheldon Road.

"I'm looking forward to it," Pell said. "We've worked pretty hard and now's the time where the real business starts.

"It's a totally different challenge for me in a way, because at Castleford before it's been about developing players, but this is a results business.

"But I've got people around me like Chris [Hood] and they will be there to help and advise as we go on."

Community has been a key aspect of the current Thunder ethos, with current players such as Payne, Robin Peers and Ryan Clarke combining playing duties with community roles in the north east.

The aim of the community programme has been to spread awareness of participation in the sport, and also to attract support to the club; support that during the club's Super League peak in 1999 reached an average of 3,895.

"When Thunder were in Super League, we were attracting crowds of seven or eight thousand, so we know the fans are out there, but it's about getting them back.

"They've been through a lot of disappointment with the club over the years but hopefully the last couple of seasons have got us on a different track, and we can give them something back as they've been loyal."

"I'm confident this year we can turn things round, I just hope people can come along and give it a go.

"If they do I'm sure they will love it, because it's infectious, it's great for fans to come along and see the game get a little bit rough."

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