 | |||
| Full name | Bath City Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | The Romans | ||
| Founded | 1889; 136 years ago (1889) (asBath AFC) | ||
| Ground | Cannon Clarke Stadium @Twerton Park | ||
| Capacity | 8,840 (1,006 seated)[1] | ||
| Owner | Bath City Supporters' Society | ||
| Chairman | David McDonagh | ||
| Manager | Darren Way | ||
| League | National League South | ||
| 2024–25 | National League South, 15th of 24 | ||
| Website | www | ||
 Current season | |||
Bath City Football Club is a semi-professionalfootball club based inBath, Somerset, England. The club is affiliated to theSomerset FA and currently competes in theNational League South, thesixth tier ofEnglish football. Nicknamed the "Romans", the club was founded in 1889 and have played their home matches atTwerton Park since 1932.
The club has never played in theFootball League, though Bath were heavily discussed as an entrant in the 1930s and 1940s, and came closest via election in 1978 and 1985. During theSecond World War, the club won theFootball League North. Bath have reached the third round of theFA Cup six times, beating league sides such as;Crystal Palace (in 1931),Millwall (in 1959), andCardiff City (in 1992). Bath were crowned Southern League championsin 1960 and1978; one of the highest levels of non-League football at the time. From 1980 to 1997, the team spent sixteen years in what is nowThe National League, with Bath finishing fourth in the1984–85 season, their highest ever league position.
Bath City hold no real fiercerivalries, albeit the fixtures with the most animosity are the local derbies shared with fellowSomerset clubYeovil Town, and more recently withWiltshire club,Chippenham Town. The club's nickname stems from Bath's ancientRoman history. The first recorded attire the club wore were blue shorts and white shirts in 1900, though Bath City changed to black and white stripes in the early 20th Century and the colours have remained since. The club's crest depicts theBorough walls, which in-circled the old city center during medieval times. Twerton Park once held up to 20,000 fans, with the club's record attendance of 18,020 being recorded in 1960.
On 19 July 1889 Bath City were formed as Bath AFC at the Christopher hotel in the city centre.[2] The team commenced play at theNorth Parade Ground inBathwick.[3] Bath competed in their first ever recorded match on 10 October1889, in which they lost 9–4 toTrowbridge Town.[4] By1891, Bath were struggling heavily financially. As a consequence, the club amalgamated with the localrugby club;[5]Bath Football Club.[6] For an entire nine years the team ceased play. Until, on 11 September1900, Bath AFC was re-formed,[7] led by cricketerWilliam Hyman.[8] Bath City FC, by name,[9] was officially born.[10]
Bath joined a multi-county division for the first time in 1908,[11] competing in theWestern League Division Two.[12] Charles Pinker was appointed manager the following year,[13] and that season they moved up to The Western League Division One.[14] Bath City remained in the Western League until1921,[15] in which they joined theSouthern League,[16] regarded as the strongest division outside the Football League at the time.[17][18] In 1921, manager Charles Pinker left the club after a successful twelve-year period.[19] He was replaced by former Swindon Town player, Billy Tout who retained this role until 1925.[20]
The following year Bath City were on the brink of extinction.[21] However, on 21 August 1926, there was a large meeting with the club's supporters and officials, and the club was "saved".[22] The following season, under newly appointed Ted Davis,[23] the team finished Southern League runners up. Being praised "the best in the club's history" by theBath Chronicle,[24] and they were runners up again in 1933. During this period,[25] Bath were heavily being discussed for entry into the Football League Third Division.[26] After over a decade at the club, Davis left Bath forColchester United in 1937.[27]Former Liverpool player,Alex Raisbeck acted as first team coach leading into the second world war.[28]
Raisbeck left the position to a returning Davis in 1940. Upon the outbreak of theSecond World War, Bath City were accepted into the temporaryFootball League North, competing with the likes ofBristol City andAston Villa.[29] That season Bath competed in their highest attended game to date, playing Aston Villa atVilla Park in front of over 30,000.[30] The team won the league under Davis.[31] In1944, the club were, once again,[32] in talks for entry into the Third Division.[33] However, the FA refused Football League entry to non-League clubs.[34] Davis left Bath in1947, and was replaced byVic Woodley,[35] though he left in 1950 after four mid-lower placed finishes,[36] and was replaced byEddie Hapgood.[37]
Bob Hewison, appointed in 1958, arguably built the strongest side in the club's history,[38] signing players such asAlan Skirton,Stan Mortensen andTony Book, captained byCharlie Fleming.[39] The team went on to win the Southern League in the 1959–60 season,[40] at Huish Park.[41] In the same season, Bath playedBrighton & Hove Albion at Twerton Park in theFA Cup third round, in front of a record crowd of 18,020,[42] but lost 1–0.[43] Two years after Hewison's departure, in spring of 1963,[44]Malcolm Allison was appointed manager.[45] That season Bath finished third, and reached the FA Cup third round.[46] Soon after however, under Welsh managerIvor Powell,[47] Bath City were relegated for the first time ever in their history.[48]
From 1964 to 1974 Bath City became ayo-yo club, being relegated from, and promoted back to the Premier Division on six occasions.[49] Two years intoBrian Godfrey's reign,in the 1977–78 season,[50] the team won the Southern League title for a second time,[51] in front of "hoards of travelling fans."[52] Under Godfrey, the club made it to twoAnglo-Italian Cup finals In 1977 and 1978;[53] They fell short of election to the Football League by three votes in 1978.[54] As a result, the club became founding members of theAlliance Premier League,[55] and played nation-wide football for the first time.[56] Albeit, the attendances from 1984 to 1989 were some of the worst in Bath City's history, with seasonal gates averaging between just 500 and 600.[57] In1991Tony Ricketts was appointed manager.[58] They reached the third round of the FA Cup during the1993–94 season, losing 4–1 toStoke City at Twerton Park in the third round in front of 7,000 fans.[59]
Following decades of playing in the top division of non-League football,[60] Bath were relegated from theConference in 1997.[61] In 2004, the club lost in the FA Cup second round toPeterborough United.[62]John Relish was appointed manager on 22 June 2005.[63] The subsequent year, they were promoted, winning the Southern League in2006–07, finishing on 91 points.[64] Under new manager Addie Britton,[65] Bath beatLeague Two sideGrimsby Town in the FA Cup first round inin 2009, only to lose toForest Green Rovers in the second round.[66]On 9 May 2010 Bath City beatWoking 1–0 in the play-off final,[67] and returned to the Conference.[68]
Bath finished tenth in the2010–11 Football Conference.[69] However, they had a poor season in 2011–12 and were relegated.[70] A year later, Britton subsequently stepped down as first team coach.[71] He was replaced byAustralian manager,Lee Howells.[72] "The Big Bath City Bid" was launched byKen Loach in the summer of2015,[73] receiving support fromformer Manchester United player,Eric Cantona.[74] On 5 May2017, the club completed its transition to community ownership.[75] On the field, they were poor again in both the2014–15 and2015–16 season, finishing fourteenth on 53 points. What little success the club had during this period was in the 2014–15 season,[76] reaching the semi-final of the FA Trophy.[77]
On 5 October 2017, former player,Jerry Gill, was appointed first team manager.[78] The first season under Gill saw the club finish in ninth.[79] They improved the next season, finishing fifth, on 71 points, subsequently, they entered play offs to compete for a place in the National League, but lost 3–1 toWealdstone on 1 May 2019,[80] and lost the play offs again the following year against Dorking Wanderers.[81] Average attendances rose, from 612 in 2016–17 to 1,142 in the2018–19 season. However, Bath were poor in both the2020–21,[82] and2021–22 seasons, finishing 18th twice.[82] They improved the following year, finishing 11th and lifting The Somerset Cup for a record 25th time in spring of 2023.[83] In November 2024 Bath City announced that Gill would leave the club.[84]
Gill was succeeded as manager byDarren Way.[85]
Bath City's initial crest was heavily based on the officialcoat of arms of the city.[86] The old badge depicted the city's medieval borough wall, theancient Roman springs, and the sword ofSaint Paul. That crest remained until 1975, when it was simplified heavily; all that remained were four vertical black stripes against a white background surrounding the silhouette of aRoman soldier. It was then changed again in1999, as the badge the club uses today. The Roman soldier was removed, the borough wall re-added, and the four stripes enlarged.[87]
| Kit suppliers | |
|---|---|
| Period | Supplier |
| 1976–1985 | Adidas |
| 1985–1987 | Umbro |
| 1987–1988 | |
| 1988–1989 | |
| 1989–1990 | Spall |
| 1990–1992 | Umbro |
| 1992–1993 | Activity |
| 1993–1997 | Vandanel |
| 1997–1998 | ICiS |
| 1998–2000 | Vandanel |
| 2000–2002 | Branded |
| 2002–2003 | |
| 2003–2007 | Erreà |
| 2007–2008 | Sportitalia |
| 2008–2010 | Joma |
| 2010–2014 | |
| 2014–2015 | Jako |
| 2015–2016 | Erreà |
| 2016–2017 | |
| 2017–2018 | |
| 2018–2019 | |
| 2019–2020 | Bristol Sport |
| 2020–2021 | Erreà |
| 2021–2022 | |
| 2022–2023 | |
| 2023–2024 | |
| Shirt Sponsors | |
|---|---|
| Period | Sponsor |
| 1985–1987 | Avon Graphics |
| 1987–1988 | Diners |
| 1988–1989 | Beazer Homes |
| 1989–1990 | Rajani |
| 1990–1992 | Design Windows |
| 1992–2000 | Bath Chronicle |
| 2000–2002 | TechnicCal |
| 2002–2003 | Bentley Jennison |
| 2003–2006 | Bath Chronicle |
| 2006–2007 | John Crick |
| 2007–2008 | Tilleys Bistro |
| 2008–2010 | SN Scaffolds |
| 2010–2011 | Inter Payroll |
| 2011–2014 | Moore Stephens |
| 2014–2015 | Tilleys Bistro |
| 2015–2016 | Midland Car Company |
| 2016–2017 | Sitec |
| 2017–2018 | Vass of Bath |
| 2018–2019 | Bristol Airport |
| 2019–2020 | |
| 2020–2021 | Bww |
| 2021–2022 | Rocketmakers |
| 2022–2023 | Belvoir Castle |
| 2023–2024 | Stone King |
Bath played their most early matches at theNorth Parade Ground inBathwick across from thecity centre, ground sharing withBath Cricket Club. In 1889, it mainly hosted friendlies with Bath AFC and other local teams.[88]
Bath City settled inTwerton at the Belvoir Castle Ground in 1900.[89] In 1908, there was talk ofBath Rugby sharing the ground, though it never materialised.[90] Two years later, the ground was purchased by theMidland Railway Company by Mr Stothert and Pitt and it was later stated that the ground would be "absolutely unsuitable for football" in a few years time, with the Railway company planning to build a train track on the very land the stadium occupied.[91]
Mr Hopkins, the club's secretary at the time, found a viable replacement for Belvoir Castle.[92] In 1919, the club to the east side of the city, in Lambridge.[93] In 1921 the club made an application to join theFootball League, in case of success, plenty of work had been done to the ground, with Lambridge's Popular Side being banked and new dressing rooms were built alongside the grandstand.[94]
Twerton Park became the club's home ground in 1932 and three years later, roofing was added toThe Popular Side.[95] In 1946, Twerton Park was described as "rivaling any stadium in the west of England."[96] A record attendance of 18,020 was recorded in1960,[97] versusBrighton & Hove Albion in the third round of theFA Cup.[98] Attendances during the 1940s and 1950s were the highest recorded in the club's history, with notable home gates including; 17,000 in 1944 vs Aston Villa,[99] 14,000 vsSouthend United in the1952–53 season and 11,700 against Yeovil Town in 1957.[100]
Between 1986 and 1996, Bath City shared Twerton Park with Bristol Rovers.[101] In 1990 the grandstand was heavily damaged byBristol Cityhooligans.[102] The ground currently has a reduced ground capacity of 4,070 from 8,840 because of safety regulations.[103] On 21 August 2008, Bath City held talks with Bath Rugby over a possible ground share at the Rec, though fans were opposed to the move the plans never materialised.[104] Bath City released plans to redevelop the ground in 2017[105] but in March 2020 the plans were rejected.[106]
Bath City were well supported in the 1940s,[107] 1950s and 1960s.[108] With gates averaging four to six thousand,[109] and reaching the late ten thousands.[100] However, by the 1970s, attendances had declined to around one thousand two hundred.[48] Gates plummeted further to just the mid hundreds in the 1980s and 1990s, and mid 2010s.[110] As a result, in 2015, a development programme aiming to boost gates to over one thousand was formed,[111] and worked successfully in the later half of the 2010s and early 2020s.[112]
The Popular Side opposite the Grandstand is home to the club's most vocal support. With the core group of singers standing at each end the team are attacking toward, raising large flags.[113] Supporters are known for singing"Drink Up Thy Cider" byThe Wurzels, a tribute to theSomerset's cider brewing industry.[citation needed] In 2017, Bath andAlpine Italian sideCalcio Lecco fans celebrated the 40th anniversary of the 1977Anglo-Italian Cup final, with a supporters match held in Lecco'sStadio Rigamonti-Ceppi ground.[114] Bath City have held no fierce rivalries with other clubs over the years, though the club's most contested fixture is shared with fellow Somerset side,Yeovil Town, who they have played 274 times.[115] Since the mid-2000s, Bath have shared a local derby with Wiltshire club,Chippenham Town.[116]
Bath City's highest ever league finish was fourth in the Alliance Premier League, the fifth level of English football, in the1984–85 season.[57] The record appearance maker is Dave Mogg, who made 515 appearances in all competitions.[117]Charlie Fleming is the club's all-time top goal scorer, with 216 goals. The highest number of goals scored by a single player in a season was Paul Randall, scoring 51 goals in the 1989–90 season. The highesttransfer fee received by the club is £80,000 forJason Dodd, paid bySouthampton in 1989.[118] The highest fee paid by Bath is £16,000 for Micky Tanner signed fromBristol City in 1988.[119] The club's record attendance is 18,020 againstBrighton & Hove Albion in the third round of theFA Cup.[98]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager | Darren Way |
| Assistant manager | Lee Kendall |
| Goalkeeping coach | Martin Horsell |
| Medical team | Lee Williams Sarah Carr |
| Lead sports scientist | Aaron Hopkinson |
| First team kit manager | Simon Jenkins |
Source:[121]
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Nick Blofeld[122] |
| Football Chairman | Paul Williams[123] |
| Directors | Andrew Pierce[124] Caroline White[125] |
| Director of football operations | Shane Morgan |
| Supporter Liaison Officer | James Carlin[128] |
Source:[129]
List showing the club's 40 permanent managers from 1907 onwards, caretaker managers are not included
Ben Hargett Charles Pinker Billy Tout Charles PinkerTed Davis Arthur Greaves
Alex RaisbeckTed Davis Arthur MortimerVic WoodleyEddie Hapgood
Paddy SloanBob Hewison Arthur ColeMalcolm Allison
Ivor PowellArnold RodgersJohhny Petts Joe O'NeilDave Burnside Roy Bence Geof FoxBert HeadJack SmithBrian Godfrey Micky Burns Bob BoydStuart TaylorBobby Jones Harold Jarman Les Alderman George RooneyTony Ricketts Steve MillardPaul Bodin Alan PridhamGary OwersJohn Relish Adie Britton
Lee HowellsGary OwersJerry Gill
Source:[57]
{{cite web}}:|last2= has generic name (help)
| History | |
|---|---|
| Grounds | |
| Rivalries | |
