Bath City

Bath City FC is one of England's most senior non-league football clubs, having originally being formed as Bath AFC in 1899. The old Roman city of Bath is one the country's foremost tourist attraction, located thirteen miles to the east of Bristol in the West Country.

Bath originally played their matches at the North Parade Ground in Bathwick, playing in local football. 1900 saw a change of home to Belvoir Castle in Twerton. In 1908-09 they entered the Western League as Bath City FC, going on to finish runners-up in 1913-14 with Charles Pinker in charge of the side.

 

A new ground in the east of the city in Lambridge was moved into in 1919, with the club trying for the first time to win enough votes to be accepted into the Football League. In 1921 City moved up to the Southern League, as members of the English Section.

They became Western Section champions in 1929-30 under manager Ted Davis, a feat that was repeated in 1932-33 after moving into their new Twerton Park home. Both times the side was defeated by the Eastern Section champions in the league final. City also fielded a side in the Western League at the same time.

During World War Two City played in the temporary Division Two Northern Division, where they competed with the likes of Liverpool, Everton and Manchester United. The 'Romans', as the club are sometimes called, went on to lift the title. However, when peace was restored, they returned to the Southern League.

In 1959-60 the club were crowned Southern League champions with Tony Book as one the prominent stars of the team managed by Bob Hewison. They also reached the third round of the FA Cup defeating Millwall and Notts County. 

Brighton & Hove Albion ended their run, in front of a record gate of 18,020 at Twerton Park. This emulated their achievements of reaching the same stage in 1931-32 and 1934-35 when the team were defeated by Brentford, and later Norwich City.

Arthur Cole took over managing the side who ended as league runners-up in 1961-62. Malcolm Allison cut his managerial teeth at Twerton Park in 1963 before moving onto Toronto City, Plymouth Argyle and then Manchester City. He took future top division star Book with him to each club as his captain.  

City were relegated to Division One of the competition in 1964-65 by which time Ivor Powell had taken over team affairs. The Welshman led his charges to promotion in 1965-66, before they dropped down a level one again twelve months later.

It would be the turn of Arnold Rodgers to lead City back to the Premier Division in 1968-69. The team went down to Division One South in 1971-72 as managers quickly came and went. The Romans were promoted in 1973-74 under the tutelage of experienced former Swindon Town and Crystal Palace boss Bert Head. 

The temporary stand erected at the Bristol End in the late 80's
after the Main Stand was damaged by an arson attack by Bristol City fans

Brian Godfrey took City to their second Southern League title in 1977-78, with the club coming close to winning enough votes to be accepted into the Football League, prior to the club becoming founder members of the Alliance Premier League, forerunner to the National League for the start of the 1979-80 campaign.

Stuart Taylor was appointed manager after short spells from the previous two incumbents. Bobby Jones took the side to fourth place in 1984-85, prior to the competition being renamed the Football Conference. In 1986 Bristol Rovers were forced out of their Eastville home and came to an arrangement to become tenants at Twerton Park. 

This led to improvements being made to the ground as at one point it hosted second tier League football. Rovers would eventually move back to Bristol after ten years. Meanwhile, the 1988-89 season ended in relegation for Bath.

City returned to non-league’s elite just one season later with George Rooney at the helm. Tony Rickets took over as manager in 1991, taking his side to the third round of the FA Cup in 1993-94 losing to Stoke City after a replay. Steve Millard oversaw team affairs when City were once again relegated in 1997-98.

The former Welsh international, Paul Bodin was appointed as manager in 1998. After a brief spell under Alan Pridham, Gary Owers would take over the role. His side lost to Dorchester Town in a playoff to see who would play in which division following the restructuring of none-league at the end of the 2003-04 season. 

Placed in the third tier, Bath missed out on a chance of promotion when losing to Bedford Town in the playoffs of 2005-06 after finishing Southern League runners-up after John Relish had been made manager. The league title followed twelve months later, and with it, promotion to Conference South.

In 2008 the popular Relish moved upstairs to concentrate on the development of a football academy. His assistant Adie Britton took up the reigns. The playoffs were reached again in 2009-10, this time seeing victories over Chelmsford City and Woking end in promotion to the top level of non-league. 

The club found the going tough competing with bigger clubs with larger budgets, while City continued to produce their own talent. Bath were relegated after a poor 2011-12 campaign, to take up a place in Conference South as Lee Howells took over the manager’s position.

The 2014-15 campaign ended in heartbreak. City were within penalties of reaching Wembley for the first time and a place in the FA Trophy final, before North Ferriby United won through. The Conference was rechristened the National League shortly after. 

Owers returned for a second spell in charge of the team before he was replaced by Jerry Gill in 2017. His side went out in the quarterfinals of the playoffs at home to Wealdstone in 2018-19. After an abandoned season and a couple of moderate finishes, the Romans ended in sixth in 2023-24.

A defeat away to Braintree Town in the quarterfinals of the playoffs ended any dreams of promotion.

Bath City FC will play in the National League South in the 2024-25 season

My visit

Bath City 2 Newpoert County 2 (Tuesday 3rd January 2011) Football Conference (att: 1,147)

After working nights shifts over New Year I had a couple of evenings spare to recover. Fixtures were thin on the ground as most teams played the day before or on New Years Day. However, the fixture at Bath was perfect as it was somewhere I wanted to go, but ideally when I didn't have to be up early the following morning.

I booked my travel tickets well in advance to secure the bargain prices. I got a seat on a National Express coach for £8 and a return train for £8.50. The problem of course with advanced bookings can be if the game is postponed because of the weather. 

The West Country had been hit by heavy rain around the time, so I was very relieved to check the club website after my sleep to find the game on. The coach journey was long, but first class. The lady driver was informative and friendly, which was rare for a start for someone in that occupation. 

We called at several drop off points and had to contend with the closure of the Hammersmith Flyover. Despite this we were only twenty minutes late arriving into Bath Bus Station. It was very windy with a nip in the air, but as I was having a bit of a fitness campaign I decided to walk along Lower Bristol Road to Twerton Park.

I knew it was around a couple of miles, but my training must have been paying off as I was there in less than thirty minutes. I went past a couple of pubs as I preferred to give my money to the club. I had also read that Charlie's supporters bar served real ale. The clubhouse was named after Charlie Fleming the former Sunderland, Scotland and Bath City stalwart. 

Twerton itself had a village feel about it with a parade of shops and a chip shop as well as the pubs. The bar did serve a couple of real ales. I went for the excellent Palmer's Copper Ale. An old copy of Charles Buchan's Football Monthly with Fleming on the cover was framed at the end of the bar. 

There was plenty of staff behind the counter and a railed off queueing system. TVs were showing Sky Sports News. I was immediately impressed. I had a second pint and put on my fixed odds accumulator on which I predicted an away win for County in this relegation six pointer.

I went outside and into the home end terrace for £14 and obtained a good programme for £2.50. To get to the terracing you have to walk up a slope. The ground is on the northern slope of the Avon Valley and therefore built into a hill. The pitch sloped down to the corner by the turnstiles. Once inside I straight away liked the ground. It was proper no nonsense and old school.

The Main Stand stood back behind an open terrace. Beyond it was a newer seated stand reserved for away fans. There was a small terrace at the Bath End. Opposite was a good sized full length covered enclosure and the Bristol End had a decent sized open terrace for the visiting fans. 

The terracing had good chunky crush barriers and the arena was lit up by four old floodlight pylons. As I was taking my photos I was greeted by Bladud the Pig, the City mascot who pinched my cap while he posed for a picture. 

Bladud was named after the legendary king and founder of Bath, who’s pigs discovered the world-famous healing waters of the city. He entertained the younger fans throughout the night and put a smile on my face as well! I was hungry by now so I sought out the refreshments. 

There was a franchise caterer near the entrance, but I plumped for the Supporters Club outlet under the roof. The pasty was tasty, if extremely greasy and overpriced at £2.50. At least I knew the money was going to a good cause. The toilets on that side had the nice touch of a window so you never missed any of the action!

County, cheered on by a superb turnout of 430 traveling fans were on top to begin with despite kicking up the slope and into the wind. It was no surprise when they took the lead when a cross found its way onto the far post and Nat Jarvis pounced to fire home, to the delight of a few older Welshmen who opted to stand under cover in the home fans section. 

It looked like County were well on course at this stage, but City had other ideas. A fine shot from inside the box from Adam Connolly and then a tap in at the far post from Sean Canham courtesy of some poor defending sent the home side in ahead at the break. Just before the whistle for half time an announcement telling fans that Charlie's was closed until the end of the game was met by sarcastic boos, which made me laugh.

I had a walk around during the interval to really appreciate the whole of Twerton Park. I really was fond of the place. It was somewhere that modern stadiums would never replicate. It had some downfalls, but it oozed character. I tried to imagine it for a full house for a Bristol derby. I bet it was a real cauldron. I'd certainly been to a lot worse Football League grounds.

County came back out full of intent, but it was City who went further ahead on the break with a low shot into the corner from the edge of the box from Scott Murray. The pattern continued for the rest of the game. Newport put on pressure with the growing wind behind them, while Bath had short spells of counter attacking. The scoreline was reduced when Gary Warren headed home unmarked from a corner. 

City's keeper Jason Matthews looked a bit of a flapper on crosses and County seemed to sense it. Somehow the home goal wasn't breeched. I was urging County on for the good of my coupon, but to be honest I'd grown a soft spot for City by then, not least because of the friendly nature of the club.

There was some really nice touches about the place. The half time draw winners were clearly announced and their names given as well as been displayed on noticeboards around the ground, something plenty of other clubs would do well to copy. The man on the PA was clear and informative. 

I liked the way he thanked the away fans for their attendance and then read out how many of them there were. This was met by a round of applause by the City faithful. That's how the game should be in my opinion. The fans also had chance to vote for their man of the match by texting in.

An old boy on his way to the gents nearly relieved himself on the spot he was laughing so much, when a huge cheer went up as Matthews caught a cross at last. It wasn't just my assessment after all! A County sub missed an absolute sitter just before the end but it was not to be for The Exiles on the night. City's home win was greeted with a large roar.

I decided to head straight back into the city even though I had an hour before my train. The walk back took even less time with the wind at my back, but it was bitterly cold. I collected my rail ticket and then went off to buy a warming cuppa before the train. On board the empty service I sat near the refreshment car. 

Some Millwall fans went past laden with cans saying they needed one. I checked on the evening scores and found that they'd gone down to an injury time goal at Bristol City. They seemed decent enough lads, and there weren't too many of them. 

My other two scores on my selections also came in, so only Newport let me down for £100, but after the disappointments of my let down the  previous Saturday, it was small beer.

I eventually got in at 1.45am after having to wait for a night bus, but I wasn't bothered in the slightest. I'd had a super afternoon and evening away from London, and I found a ground that while going out of fashion, will also have a special place in this fans heart.