I was listening to a favourite radio station yesterday when Bath City FC was mentioned as a National League South club https://www.bathcityfc.com/ worth looking at their website.
Playing at Twerton Park in the Bath suburbs since 1932, "The Romans" has recently been backed by film maker Ken Loach of Z-Cars and Kes (he has an Honorary Doctorate at the Uni) since 2015. he hopes to help the club succeed at the "Big Bath City Bid", a bid to make Bath City FC a Community Owned Club, with a one member one vote scheme to develop the club and clear debits. By 2016, £300,000 was raised and by 2017 the club was in "Community Ownership".
The scheme has also been backed by Eric Cantona (of all people).
Development of the Twerton Park ground is planned to help erase financial losses with a plan to increase the capacity to 5,000. A 3G pitch is planned, with student accommodation housing built on the site to bring in rent. The ground's proximity to a local cemetery and crematorium suggests catering for Wakes at the ground may serve two purposes.
Bobby Zamora started his career there in 2000 and was later encouraged by Ian Holloway at Bristol Rovers to promote his career.
Bath has a huge reputation for rugby union of course and the city hosts Team Bath, student teams of a variety of sports based at the local successful university
In 2002-3, Team Bath, founded in 1999, became the first University side to reach the First Round Proper of the FA Cup since 1880 when Oxford University achieved the equivalent success. The Dark Blues actually went to the final, losing to Clapham Rovers 1-0. On their way to the final, Oxford Uni met Wednesbury Strollers in Rd One, then Royal Engineers in Rd 2, Barnes Rd 3, Nottingham Forest in Round 4, losing 2-1. The football club in that form, shared Twerton Park (below) for a while, but disbanded in 2009, failing to maintain its financial backing with only small attendances to bring money into the club. The Plan is below.
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