Norwich City: Archie Mair joins Gateshead on season-long loan

An opportunity to be a first-choice goalkeeper was the driving force behind Archie Mair’s loan move to National League side Gateshead.

The Norwich City goalkeeper has agreed to join the non-league outfit on a season-long loan after a productive spell at Notts County in the second half of the last campaign, including a starring role in their Wembley triumph against Chesterfield.

Notts County elected to bring in a more experienced shot-stopped and turned down the chance to move for Mair again.

Mair has since set his target on another year away to experience life as a first-choice goalkeeper, having largely played second fiddle to Sam Slocombe at Meadow Lane last season.

That was the driving force behind the decision to move to the north east on a temporary basis as the 22-year-old seeks to continue his development with regular football.

“I want to be a number one. That’s the main thing about being here,” Mair told Gateshead’s official channels.

“I want to play week in and week out, help lead the team and be the goalkeeper that they look back towards and have a bit of faith in. I’ve played at King’s Lynn but that was a little bit different because it was during Covid and there were no fans there.

“Having that pressure and weight on my shoulders, I’m really looking forward to that.”

Mair featured for Norwich in their opening midweek pre-season friendly against Barnet on Tuesday before talks with Gateshead ramped up in the latter end of the week.

The Scotland youth international is one of many young goalkeepers currently on the books at Carrow Road, with Vicente Reyes the latest to join from Atlanta United earlier this summer.

Discussing his move to the Gateshead International Stadium, Mair has revealed how quickly the deal came into being.

“I’m delighted to be here,” he said. “It’s been a quick turnaround – I played in a game against Barnet on Tuesday and there had been a bit of talk beforehand but I only really knew yesterday it was happening.

“The first I heard about it was last year when I was at Notts so it was always in the back in my head. This last week it has really ramped up. I’m looking forward to getting going”