Right back Craig Baxter was a firm favourite with supporters of Gateshead and was much sought-after following his departure from the International Stadium in the summer of 2016.

He spent nine years with the Tynesiders across two spells, playing a key role in their progression through the leagues to the National League before stabilising there.

He was a key part of the Gateshead team which made it to the play-off final in 2014, before losing out to Cambridge United at Wembley.

That dream-like season for Gateshead started just a year after he had been released by the club in 2012, dropping into the Northern League with Bedlington Terriers for a season.

The Tynesiders soon saw the error of their ways, re-signing him in 2013. In 2016, he was released for a second time by Gateshead as the club changed almost their entire playing staff over the summer, and this time he opted to join South Shields.

Forward Lee Mason, 30, made the move across the River Tyne to South Shields from neighbours North Shields in February 2018, linking up with his former boss at the Robins, Graham Fenton.

The former Whitby Town, Whitley Bay and Blyth Spartans player is known for his strong technical ability and has demonstrated during his time at Mariners Park that he certainly knows where the net is.

Experienced 34-year-old midfielder Phil Turnbull (pictured) signed for South Shields from Darlington in May 2018.

He had spent three years with Darlington, where he won the Northern Premier title and spent two seasons playing in the National League North.

He had previously spent seven years at Gateshead and established himself as a firm favourite at the International Stadium and was a key part of the side which progressed through the pyramid and fell just short of a place in the Football League, losing in the National League Promotion Final to Cambridge United in 2014.

The central midfielder had previously spent time with Hartlepool United, Blyth Spartans and York City.

(Photo: Andy Nunn)