A WORLD AWAY

What an obscene event transfer deadline day is. It is of course built beautifully for rolling 24 hour news - the TV channels were full of it, but it is a world away from the reality most football Clubs face.

At Bath City I am not sure of the full facts but I think the record fee paid was £20,000 plus for Micky Tanner in the 1980s? The record fee received was a similar figure for Jason Dodd from Southampton with a sell on clause that never materialised. Didn't Dave Wiffil also go to Manchester City for a fee?

But that's about it and for the last 15 years I can't recall a fee paid or received other than small sums for Lewis Hogg and Jamie Gosling (even then I think Yeovil transferred him before the appearance number kicked in).

The Premier League football bubble must burst at some stage though people have predicting that for some time and it just keeps going.

A huge benefit of the international weekends is that non-league football gets a boost. Certainly local teams near my home in Derbyshire benefited with a few extra through the gate. City have been able to market themselves with some success to the Bristol Clubs in the past.

It is great to see the Club promoting Paul Randall's book 'Punky'. Bath City has always welcomed back ex players and I was lucky enough to host events with Paul, Tony Ricketts, George Gibbs, Ken Allen, Richard Bourne, Jon Holloway, John Freegard and Martin Paul. Recently long time City fan Martin Powell hosted an evening with 60s great Mike Denton.

As the cricket season comes to a close, as a Somerset fan I have to say just how miserable the season has been so far. We have had some great years recently. Runners up in the Championship and so close to honours in the one day format for 4 or 5 years. But the comprehensive semi final defeat in the YB40 at Nottingham, hot on the heels of the crucial reverse against fellow strugglers Derbyshire, means my home County is in the last chance saloon at Taunton this week. I have everything crossed that our luck will change.

It certainly wasn't easy being a Somerset follower living in Derbyshire last week!

On the pitch City's draw at full time Ebbsfleet United was encouraging though and certainly improved my sporting week. Will Salmon looks like a player City will want to hang on to and his goal gave the travelling City fans a very welcome point. 2 wins, 2 draws and just 1 defeat is a solid start. It is still too early to say, but my biggest fear is that we are confirmed as a 'win some, lose some' mid table side. I hope not as we desperately need results to re-kindle interest.

For me it makes the coming home game against Tonbridge Angels feel a bit 'must win'. A win would put us at the top end of the table and people might think about returning to May Day Trust Park.

I am looking forward to being there this coming Saturday to witness it.