It's great when a plan comes together!
People came in numbers to the community day- almost 1400 including many Bath school children via the Foundation. And the team did their bit hitting 4 goals at home in the league for the first time this season. It was a great attacking performance with some good goals and plenty of incident. Every City player did their bit but I was struck by just how effective Dave Pratt is and the final goal in stoppage time was a masterclass in the role of a battling centre forward.
There was a lovely buzz in the ground. Numbers turned up and enjoyed it. I know I did. I love a good crowd. It's what got me hooked in the first place.
Even if only a fraction come back to watch again it will have been worth it.
The group of exiles who supported the event -Alan Finney, Pete Flack, Gerry Walker, Barry Richards,Ken Loach (plus Martin 'Basil' Brush and Bob Chester) had a great time.
There were lots of 'thank yous' in the excellent match day programme but Bob Chester led the day and did a brilliant job.
What was noticeable was that the Club is now back working together under Chairman Paul Williams and his Board.
It was great to see the Conference's Brian Lee present the £15,000 cheque to Pete Sellwood of the Bath City FC Community Sports Foundation.
There will be lots of speculation about how the Club did financially on the day. By my calculation it must have been worth it. With some 12 sponsors/backers paying circa £500 that gave the Club a around £6,000 base to work with. Obviously there were costs to the Club in terms of hospitality to deduct but that would be equal to normal gate receipts (say 500 x £10) - everything else on top of that was a bonus. If you assume that 1100 ( I think the children came in free) paid an average £5 each then that is another £5,000. There is the 10% to the RUH appeal but the bars etc looked busy so it was surely a good day for the Club.
For me its the involvement of people in the Club that's key and the fact that a new generation of younger supporters will come through.
Obviously Monday's game at Havant and Waterlooville was a huge disappointment made worse by last nights Dover slip up. I listened to the excellent Bath City internet radio commentary and we had enough chances to be ahead at half time. The second half was a non event. Whilst I am sure the players will keep going and win as many as possible mathematically it is now pretty much all over. A top 7 finish would be very good. We do need 3 players for next season and the midfield general is essential. I am not sure Phil Walsh is the dominating centre half we need but he has made a good early impression. Pratt and Watkins have been great but that out and out goalscorer is still missing.
This Saturday we face the daunting trip to high flying Sutton United. There is a chance to shape the squad for next season but I suspect the management may wait a couple more games for that.
We need to carry momentum into next season so a positive last 6 games is important for me.
Wednesday 26 March 2014
Tuesday 18 March 2014
A GREAT DAY IN PROSPECT!
I am really looking forward to this Saturdays 'Community day' at Bath City Football Club. You can come along and 'pay what you want' and enjoy a fun afternoon out at May day Trust Park. With Bristol Rovers fans backing the initiative there should be a really good crowd there. Chelmsford are the visitors (k.o. 3 p.m.)
These events take quite some organising.
The Club needed the backing of key sponsors to ensure that it could achieve a baseline income for the game and I am proud to say that 3 organisations I am involved with stepped forward to sponsor the event. The Club's largest shareholder, the Bath City Supporter's Society, has put £500 in as has the Bath City FC Community Sports Foundation. The latter will invite hundreds of the City's children and their parents along to the event. The Conference Trust's Brian Lee will present the £15,000 cheque to the Foundation on the pitch at half time.
I am also part of a group of 8, loosely called 'the exiles' who together are supporting the event. Along with Alan Finney, Ken Loach, Barry Richards, Pete Flack, Martin Brush, Bob Chester and Gerry Walker, I'll be briefly in the Moore Stephens lounge for a couple of pints of pre-match real ale before heading over to what I hope will be a packed popular side terrace.
The architect of the community day is Bob Chester who has worked tirelessly to sort out arrangements for the day along with the Club's Directors and Andy Weekes in particular.
Steve Skinner and Pete Sellwood have led the Foundation's substantial input to this and Martin Powell, Chairman of the Society, has organised the Society's support.
Mark Tanner has done a brilliant job getting posters and leaflets out with a group of supporters.
I make no apology for doing all these name checks.....I have surely left a lot of key people out....but without individuals putting in the time initiatives go nowhere.
So now its down to the rest of us to get friends and family to come along.
If we can get a crowd of 1000 plus and just a few come back for future games it will have been worth it!
Obviously last Saturday's win over Dorchester Town effectively kept our season alive. It was a comfortable win but we really should have scored more goals. I really hope we can put that right this Saturday against Chelmsford. If our season does come to an end then we still have the Somerset Cup and I was reminded by Alan Finney that there is pleasure enough in watching your team play regardless of the chance of silverware!
See you on Saturday!
These events take quite some organising.
The Club needed the backing of key sponsors to ensure that it could achieve a baseline income for the game and I am proud to say that 3 organisations I am involved with stepped forward to sponsor the event. The Club's largest shareholder, the Bath City Supporter's Society, has put £500 in as has the Bath City FC Community Sports Foundation. The latter will invite hundreds of the City's children and their parents along to the event. The Conference Trust's Brian Lee will present the £15,000 cheque to the Foundation on the pitch at half time.
I am also part of a group of 8, loosely called 'the exiles' who together are supporting the event. Along with Alan Finney, Ken Loach, Barry Richards, Pete Flack, Martin Brush, Bob Chester and Gerry Walker, I'll be briefly in the Moore Stephens lounge for a couple of pints of pre-match real ale before heading over to what I hope will be a packed popular side terrace.
The architect of the community day is Bob Chester who has worked tirelessly to sort out arrangements for the day along with the Club's Directors and Andy Weekes in particular.
Steve Skinner and Pete Sellwood have led the Foundation's substantial input to this and Martin Powell, Chairman of the Society, has organised the Society's support.
Mark Tanner has done a brilliant job getting posters and leaflets out with a group of supporters.
I make no apology for doing all these name checks.....I have surely left a lot of key people out....but without individuals putting in the time initiatives go nowhere.
So now its down to the rest of us to get friends and family to come along.
If we can get a crowd of 1000 plus and just a few come back for future games it will have been worth it!
Obviously last Saturday's win over Dorchester Town effectively kept our season alive. It was a comfortable win but we really should have scored more goals. I really hope we can put that right this Saturday against Chelmsford. If our season does come to an end then we still have the Somerset Cup and I was reminded by Alan Finney that there is pleasure enough in watching your team play regardless of the chance of silverware!
See you on Saturday!
Wednesday 12 March 2014
MAIDENHEAD WIN GIVES US HOPE
City's win at Maidenhead last Saturday confirmed that we are in another little run of success. That's 3 games without defeat, but we need another 7 wins from 9 games to be close to 5th spot at the end of April.
There are opportunities to do it with struggling Dorchester Town the visitors to May day Trust Park this coming Saturday and then City entertain Chelmsford the following week for the 'community day'. By their standards Chelmsford have had a poor season.
If City can get maximum points from those games, adding in the away fixture at Havant on 24th March, we really will be back in with a chance of a play off place but it will be tough. Sutton away and Eastbourne at home will be the more difficult games on paper, but Hayes, Gosport, Concord and Farnborough could be the 4 wins final run in.
Realistically 7 wins from 9 when we have only won 4 in 15 is clutching at straws but I am just trying to keep the season alive!
Dover's emphatic win at wobbling Bromley last night was a bit of a blow to our hopes but they still have a lot of games to play. We have dropped to 7th on goal difference.
It was nice that City profited from a bit of luck in the last 5 minutes for a change at Maidenhead. The keeper's miss allowed Josh Low to tap home. I am one of those who values Josh Low. He has scored key goals and brings a lovely touch. Some fans condemn his work rate but 'making the ball do the work' was always a good quality in my book.
Phil Walsh had a good game at centre back according to those who were there and was singled out for praise by Lee Howells after the match. Whether he is a centre back than Preecey is too early to say.
It is great to See Andy Watkins scoring more regularly. He has been unlucky this season. He has to be one of the first names on the retained list at the end of the season along with Jason Mellor, Sekani Simpson, Danny Ball, Andy Bowman and Noah Keats. After that for me, its open to debate.
So the players now have a welcome football free week.....I can't see any first teamer other than Jim Rollo playing at Cheddar....and this has to be good news when you see many of our play off rivals playing Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday and then Saturday again.
Feet up lads! (or Cheltenham races!)
There are opportunities to do it with struggling Dorchester Town the visitors to May day Trust Park this coming Saturday and then City entertain Chelmsford the following week for the 'community day'. By their standards Chelmsford have had a poor season.
If City can get maximum points from those games, adding in the away fixture at Havant on 24th March, we really will be back in with a chance of a play off place but it will be tough. Sutton away and Eastbourne at home will be the more difficult games on paper, but Hayes, Gosport, Concord and Farnborough could be the 4 wins final run in.
Realistically 7 wins from 9 when we have only won 4 in 15 is clutching at straws but I am just trying to keep the season alive!
Dover's emphatic win at wobbling Bromley last night was a bit of a blow to our hopes but they still have a lot of games to play. We have dropped to 7th on goal difference.
It was nice that City profited from a bit of luck in the last 5 minutes for a change at Maidenhead. The keeper's miss allowed Josh Low to tap home. I am one of those who values Josh Low. He has scored key goals and brings a lovely touch. Some fans condemn his work rate but 'making the ball do the work' was always a good quality in my book.
Phil Walsh had a good game at centre back according to those who were there and was singled out for praise by Lee Howells after the match. Whether he is a centre back than Preecey is too early to say.
It is great to See Andy Watkins scoring more regularly. He has been unlucky this season. He has to be one of the first names on the retained list at the end of the season along with Jason Mellor, Sekani Simpson, Danny Ball, Andy Bowman and Noah Keats. After that for me, its open to debate.
So the players now have a welcome football free week.....I can't see any first teamer other than Jim Rollo playing at Cheddar....and this has to be good news when you see many of our play off rivals playing Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday and then Saturday again.
Feet up lads! (or Cheltenham races!)
Wednesday 5 March 2014
PLAY OFFS LOOK DIFFICULT BUT PRIDE RESTORED
I have mixed emotions following 2 good results against Bromley and Ebbsfleet. Pride has certainly been restored after the desperately poor showing against Basingstoke but sadly 2 points from a possible 15 leaves City well short of what's needed to make the playoffs.
The truth is that we have lacked the consistency needed to succeed. We have talent and can, as last night showed, play committed and entertaining football but the 'win some lose some roller coaster' is not a recipe for promotion.
We do have the basis of a team that can make it next season but until we get the specialist dominant centre half, leader and midfield terrier and target man up front we can look forward to another mid table season.
It's hard to know how the rest of this season will go. The players won't have written off the chance of 5th spot but we will have to win 8 or so games in the run in to do it. With so much fixture congestion it is possible that 65 points could do it but I am just clutching at straws.
Personally I hate season's that end with a quarter of the fixtures still to play!
I hope its an opportunity to bring a few more younger players in even for cameo appearances...
This Saturday City have a real chance to record a first victory after a winless streak of 5. Maidenhead is a happy hunting ground for us.
Then Dorchester at home on 15th March is another good opportunity to pick up points.
We can all then enjoy a carnival atmosphere at the 'community day' against Chelmsford on 22nd March.
You can pay what you want!
See you there!
The truth is that we have lacked the consistency needed to succeed. We have talent and can, as last night showed, play committed and entertaining football but the 'win some lose some roller coaster' is not a recipe for promotion.
We do have the basis of a team that can make it next season but until we get the specialist dominant centre half, leader and midfield terrier and target man up front we can look forward to another mid table season.
It's hard to know how the rest of this season will go. The players won't have written off the chance of 5th spot but we will have to win 8 or so games in the run in to do it. With so much fixture congestion it is possible that 65 points could do it but I am just clutching at straws.
Personally I hate season's that end with a quarter of the fixtures still to play!
I hope its an opportunity to bring a few more younger players in even for cameo appearances...
This Saturday City have a real chance to record a first victory after a winless streak of 5. Maidenhead is a happy hunting ground for us.
Then Dorchester at home on 15th March is another good opportunity to pick up points.
We can all then enjoy a carnival atmosphere at the 'community day' against Chelmsford on 22nd March.
You can pay what you want!
See you there!
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