Mike Williamson, who has enjoyed a 17-year professional career, has returned to Tyneside where he enjoyed a successful time with Newcastle United, to join National League side Gateshead.
Originally with Torquay United and then Southampton, the 6`4” defender made well over 120 appearances for Wycombe Wanderers before joining Watford for an ‘undisclosed fee’ and then Portsmouth for £2 million.
NEW SIGNING: We are delighted to announce the biggest signing on Tyneside this summer, as former #NUFC defender Mike Williamson joins Gateshead on a one year deal.
https://t.co/CwajutxKA6 pic.twitter.com/ia8oDUYOA8
— Gateshead FC (@GatesheadFC) August 10, 2018
NEW SIGNING: We are delighted to announce the biggest signing on Tyneside this summer, as former 
He moved on from Fratton Park to Newcastle and made over 150 starts for the Toon in the Premier League and won a Championship winner’s medal in his five years at St James’s Park.
After a spell on loan, he moved on to Wolverhampton Wanderers for £250,000 in January 2016, left at the end of the 2106/17 season, having played only five times for the Old Golds.
He subsequently joined Oxford United in July 2017 on a one-year deal and things started well for Williamson as he played the first 14 games under Pep Clotet, but failed to feature under either caretaker boss Derek Fazackerley or former MK Dons boss Karl Robinson, who took over in March 2018.
He was released by Robinson at the end of last season.
Gateshead manager and former Newcastle favourite Steve Watson told the club’s official website:
“As much as we`ve built and progressed over the summer, we still haven`t been able to add that bit of experience and Mike certainly brings that.
“It`s massive experience that he brings to the club, having played at the highest level.
“As I`ve said, I`ve tried to build a squad full of the right characters and Mike is certainly one of those.
“He`s a very intelligent lad and is looking at going further in the game. He helps us on and off the pitch and is still a hell of a player.
“When you’ve got games like Dover, Sutton, teams like that, you need to stand up to the physical battle and he brings that to the side.
“I explained to him how we’ve had our backs to the wall all summer, how we’ve built a young hungry squad and Mike bought into that straight away.
“He was committed to living in Newcastle with his family long before we spoke, he’s got a lot of ties up here and it works out well for both parties.
“I know Mike has had offers from elsewhere over the summer and he’s certainly not here for any other reason, he wants to play for the football club.
“He believes in the process and what we’re trying to do, the only reason it hasn’t been done earlier was to get him playing competitive football as he hasn’t for a while.
“He’s been patient, he hasn’t demanded to sign and I like the way he’s gone about things and I think he’ll enjoy it here.”
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