PLAYING AT THE NEW BATH STADIUM A REAL OPTION FOR CITY!

I was surprised more people didn't pick up on the significance of the Tribunal decision re Bath Rugby's use of the Recreation Ground.

I joined in the consultation process and wrote as an individual to complain that a private Rugby Club was appropriating public charitable land and that it was excluding other sports.

I think about 70 objections were recorded amongst many more supporters of the Rugby Club's plans but the Tribunal had to listen to those voices which cautioned the Charity Commission that it would be quite wrong to simply hand over public land in such a prime location.

I didn't get any reaction to last week's article on the Fan's Forum but there was a lot of support on twitter and Facebook.

Last week I wrote to the Chronicle suggesting that a way forward for the Rugby Club might be to embrace other sports including City. If it was truly a stadium for Bath I would support a larger facility outside the current foot print occupied by Bath Rugby.

A link to my letter is here:

http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Add-variety/story-20938679-detail/story.html

In my view the Recreation ground is a much better option than Lansdown or staying at Twerton. We would attract much more support. And for those who say we'd rattle around in a new stadium, well we already do so at Twerton. If we filled one stand at the Rec with limited seating pitch side around the ground it would still be a good atmosphere. How many empty grounds do you see on TV now especially those televised FA Cup games!

I would go further. Why not join with Bath Rugby in a sports franchise where Bath Rugby and Bath Football represented our City.

Unless we are ambitious and think big I fear we'll slowly die at May day Trust Park or worse still Lansdown.

The news that the Rec Trust are to appeal to the Tribunal may indeed open up a real opportunity for other sports to be involved including City.

And there is always the possibility that if Bath Rugby leave the Rec could be available for City!!

Food for thought.

The win over Hayes and Yeading was thrilling and at last we got the late winner to cancel out some of the horror shows when City have conceded late. Dave Pratt and Andy Watkins really have blossomed in the latter part of the season and Josh Low had another good game.

I listened to the game on the excellent Bath City Internet radio. I hadn't realised that there was a notable time delay in transmission. I got a text saying Andy Watkins had scored to make it 3-2 fully a minute before it happened on the radio. I was able to confidently tell Sarah and the boys that City would indeed score in a minute! They were astonished at my powers of prediction.

It's a long shot but if Dover and Havant drop a few points in the next week or so and City have a maximum Easter weekend we might just go to Concord Rangers on 26th April with a chance of the playoffs.

There is always hope.

Certainly the team has built some momentum and we have to be confident of a successful season next year with a couple of key additions to the squad.

City's end of season presentation party is open to all at the Club on Saturday 17th May. Themed around the 'grand national' its usually a great night with a chance to chat to the players and have some fun.