Over the past two decades I’ve been to the best part of a dozen non-league grounds here in the NE with mates who support Bradford (PA) and Chester respectively.
Gateshead introduced segregation about three years ago, but the stadium is a vast, empty bowl and it’s probably as much to do with spreading the “crowd” out as avoiding trouble. The last evening game I went to there only the main stand was open, fans separated by a blanked off block of seats. However fans mingle quite happy in The Schooner pub nearby.
Last season’s Blyth Spartans v Chester fixture was the only other one I’ve been at where away fans were directed to a separate turnstile. The daft thing about that was that you could just walk into the clubhouse and have a pie and a pint regardless of your colours.
Also, I’ve never been unable to pay on the gate at any game. FA Cup included.
Not saying things won’t be different for us this coming season, but in my experience fans tend to self segregate anyway. For example going behind the goal your team is attacking.
