Martin Smith takes Gateshead coaching role under Lee Cattermole | OneFootball

Martin Smith has been appointed first-team coach at National League Gateshead, working under former Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole while remaining registered as a player.

"I've known the manager for a long time and he was someone I looked up to as a young player. He was a role model at that time with the way he played and the way he trained and he was someone I looked to to help my game and my career." He was speaking to Sunderland Echo.

"There is a really strong connection." "He's all-in and that's where me and him align."

Smith is also registered to play, coming off the bench in the opening-day defeat at Eastleigh, then he remained on the bench for Saturday's home win against Woking.

Although he did not make a competitive senior appearance for Sunderland, the midfielder has more than 200 games for Swindon Town, Kilmarnock, Chesterfield and Carlisle United. A former Academy of Light team-mate of Jordan Pickford, Lynden Gooch and Duncan Watmore, he began coaching during spells with Hartlepool United and Salford City.

"A coach I always go back to is Kevin Ball and that's from a young age, over 15 years ago, and he help shape me as a player and as a person."

Source: Sunderland Echo

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”