Lee Cattermole ‘to make’ former Sunderland defender first Gateshead signing | OneFootball

Thomas Lavery is set to become Lee Cattermole’s first signing at Gateshead, with the former Sunderland right-back poised to move after his release this summer.

According to Sunderland Echo, Lavery is closing in on a free transfer to the National League side after departing the Black Cats earlier this summer.

Lavery joined Sunderland aged nine and progressed through the Academy of Light, playing regularly for the under-18s and under-21s. He marked his under-21 debut in September 2023 by scoring a late comeback winner against Aston Villa, and was named on the first-team bench three times in the 2023-24 Championship.

He made 24 appearances across the under-21 and under-18 teams in 2024-25 but was not retained as part of the club’s academy releases this summer.

A switch to Gateshead would offer his first steps into sustained senior football under Cattermole, who became manager this summer after working in Sunderland’s youth set-up.

Source: Sunderland Echo