Ian Bogie has labelled Gateshead's Blue Square Premier home game against Luton Town on Saturday as the biggest since the Tynesiders lost their Football League status in 1960.
The Gateshead manager regards the Hatters as the biggest scalp of his embryonic managerial career and has appealed for local fans to rally behind Gateshead this weekend.
Luton, managed by former Newcastle United Academy coach Richard Money, will head north with a travelling army of several hundred and Bogie wants to see more through the home turnstiles.
"In terms of the stature of the opposition Luton Town are the biggest club Gateshead has entertained in half a century," said Bogie (pictured).
"As a player I made my Newcastle United debut against Luton Town in 1986 when both clubs were in the top flight of the English game which is now the Premier League.
"Luton spent eleven years in the top division and also beat Arsenal at Wembley in the 1988 League Cup final and they are a club with a great tradition.
"The Hatters have average gates of 7,000 while ours is below 700 so there is a huge gap in resources and five years ago Gateshead were struggling in the lower reaches of the UniBond League while Luton were mid-table in the Championship.
"Both clubs fortunes have changed markedly since then and it shows just how far Gateshead has come in a short space of time and how far Luton have fallen."
Gateshead hope to record their fourth four figure gate of the season on Saturday and Bogie is desperate for his side to have the lions share of the support.
"Luton fans will travel in numbers so I would appeal to the regions football fans to get behind us.for what is the biggest game for Gateshead in half a century."
"Our fan base is growing slowly but remains disappointing. There is plenty at stake on Saturday and we are flying the flag for North East non-League football so I hope the gate reflects that."
