I was Newcastle star accused of deliberate red card - now I'm boss of Wembley-bound club

The 39-year-old is the first-team manager of National League side Gateshead and is preparing to take the club to Wembley for the FA Trophy final.

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Williamson made 171 appearances for Newcastle across six years before departing the club for a move closer to his family roots with Wolves and then Oxford United.

He wasn't there for long though as his love for Tyneside was too strong. Williamson joined Gateshead as a player in 2018 and has been there ever since.

In his time with the club, the Heed nearly ceased to exist and were relegated for financial breaches, but after a few tough years, they are back.

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And Williamson is delighted the fans and people connected with Gateshead will get a day out at Wembley.

Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT.com, he said: "For the supporters and the directors - the guys that have worked so hard to keep this club afloat - it's a lovely day, and I am sure they will enjoy it."

However, this is more than just trip to London for the Heed squad, and they are ready to win some silverware.

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"The boys had to fight through the rounds in a difficult season, but we got there, and we're looking forward to it and are focusing on our preparation.

"It's a huge occasion."

Standing in their way are Halifax Town, who finished just three places above Williamson's men but start as favourites.

Gateshead, though, have faced much tougher tests in recent years and, after financial mismanagement, the club is now owned by a fan-led consortium.

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Williamson could have moved on, but he stayed, and under his guidance, the Heed won the National League North title last year and pulled off a remarkable end-of-season run to remain in the National League this time around.

So it's no wonder the ex-Toon defender has nothing but praise for the ownership model.

"It's been a real collective effort," he said.

"We are a community-based club, and the club faced a real threat of extinction. The fans came in, took over, and have been working their socks off ever since.

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"We now want to build and create something we are proud of.

"The last two years have been a privilege to be involved, and hopefully, we can continue, and the best times are ahead of us."

Gateshead don't play traditional 'non-league football' and have adopted an unbelievable style of play that is widely considered one of the National League's best.

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But when asked who inspires this style, Williamson heaps praise on his coaching staff.

"The group I've got around me here, with Ian Watson, Louis Storey, Rob Elliot and Ben Clark - I take a lot of inspiration from.

"I love watching Manchester City, Liverpool, Brighton and Swansea - the best teams in the world in terms of the way they play, but my inspiration comes from this room.

"We've got a way that we want to play, but we've got to learn and develop the team to get better at it, but there is no other way to play - we are convinced of that."

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That commitment was tested in the early part of the season as Gateshead lost Macaulay Langstaff and Cedwyn Scott to Notts County and had to regroup.

The Heed were stuck in the relegation zone for most of the 2022/23 campaign but managed to win eight of their last 11 league games to finish 15th.

So after pulling off the great escape, another trophy would top off an incredible two years for a club that nearly disappeared.

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Williamson has led the Heed superbly; however, there is one inescapable moment from his Premier League career that he will always be known for.

During the 2014/15 season, Newcastle, under the leadership of John Carver, were slipping towards relegation when they faced fellow strugglers Leicester.

The Magpies were trailing 3-0 when Williamson, who was on a booking, attempted to tackle Jamie Vardy and ploughed into the striker.

Williamson was sent off, and after the game, Carver accused him of deliberately getting a red card - it was an astonishing accusation.

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But it's all been forgotten, and the pair are good friends.

"It was two emotional guys," he admitted.

"The season wasn't going well, and in the game, frustrations got the better of me, so I take responsibility for that, but not by any means was it on purpose.

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"I was hurting, not doing well, and wanted to put a solid tackle in to spark a comeback.

"I mistimed it; there was no malice.

"John and I speak, and it was just one of those situations. The pressure was on all of us, and we are good friends."

Williamson has come a long way from that incident, and as Wembley looms, he can be very proud of a journey that is only just beginning.

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