City and Hungerford share Boxing Day spoils (26/12/16)
City and Hungerford Town shared the points this afternoon at Twerton Park in a game that only really came to life in the final 20 minutes. Both sides struggled to impose themselves on the game during a forgettable first half. The visitors direct physical approach perhaps just shaded the 45 minutes, with City’s attempts to play football rarely testing their opponent. Andy Watkins saw two long efforts fly off target and Frankie Artus also tried his luck from distance, the ball dipping just over the crossbar, whilst Max O’Leary’s full length save from a shot that looked to be heading wide was the closest Hungerford came to a goal. The second half showed little signs of improvement and it was no real surprise that when the deadlock was finally broken, on 68 minutes, it was in a scrappy manner. Chas Hemmings and Boardman challenged for Herring’s long-throw and the ball looped off a head into the corner of the net. Given that City had looked so impotent up-front up to that point a way back into the game seemed unlikely but seven minutes later they levelled. Nick McCootie showed all his strength to win position down the right flank and he burst forward to send in a low cross that Watkins confidently side-footed home. Suddenly the game came to life, Brown heading wide for the Crusaders and Watkins forcing a fine save from Legg. Morgan then headed a corner wide and Hemmings lifted a shot over the bar as City began to up their game. A dreadful challenge by Herring on Watkins sparked a late melee between the teams, with both the ex-Chippenham Town midfielder and Frankie Artus somewhat fortunate to escape seeing red. Shaquille Hunter then got clear after a mistake by Day but couldn’t get a shot away before Morgan headed another chance over to ensure the game would end all-square.
Loan player news update (23/12/16)
City are pleased to annouce that they have extended the loan deal with Reading for Axel Andresson until 25 February. The club have also agreed to extend Stuart Fleetwood’s loan at Weymouth for a third month from Boxing Day to the end of January. And it can also confirm that Ryan Broom has been recalled by Bristol Rovers.
Give Blood this Christmas as Twerton Park (21/12/16)
The latest blood donation session takes place at Twerton Park on Wednesday 28 December 12.45 to 15.30 and 16.30 to 19.45. For further information visit www.blood.co.uk or call 0300 123 23 23. Save A Life – Give Blood.
Watkins double downs ten-man Whitehawk (17/12/16)
A goal in each half from Andy Watkins fired City to a 2-0 win over Whitehawk at The Enclosed Ground this afternoon. The eventful game saw a lenghty first half delay after the referee injured his calf, eventually being replaced by a young Whitehawk fan who ran the line for the remainder of the match. The Hawks Abdualla was also sent off just past the half hour mark after earning yellow cards from both referees for fouls on Watkins. Playing down the slope in the first half City had always looked the more threatening side, twice failing to take advantage of a goalmouth scramble and then seeing keeper Covolan produce a great stop from Nick McCootie’s close range header. However, he could do nothing to prevent Watkins flicking Chas Hemmings cross into the net on 27 minutes. City couldn’t add to their lead before the interval and Whitehawk began the second half pressing them back despite their one man disadvantage. City defended well and looked threatening on the break, and with 18 minutes left one such foray forward saw Marvin Morgan do well to win the ball and pick out Watkins to fire the ball into the roof of the net. McCootie nearly added a third, lifting the ball narrowly over when clean through, but City saw out the rest of the game with few alarms to collect a deserved three points.
Phillips makes Mangotsfield loan switch (16/12/16)
City goalkeeper Steve Phillips has joined Mangotsfield United on loan for a month. The 38-year old has been sidelined with a knee problem since August and joins the Southern League Division 1 South & West promotion chasing side to get some game time.
Trophy hopes ended in narrow Sutton defeat (10/12/16)
City’s hopes of a long FA Trophy run were ended this afternoon after they were narrowly beaten by Sutton United at a gloomy Gander Green Lane. Gary Owers’ side can consider themselves somewhat unlucky not to have earnt a Twerton Park replay but in the end a fluke first half goal was enough to take the U’s into the 2nd Round. With the exception of highly rated winger Deacon the hosts rarely showed the quality that has seen them make a solid start back in the Vanarama National League and reach the FA Cup 3rd Round. What turned out to be the winning goal arrived on 35 minutes when Jefford’s free-kick from just inside the City half skidded off the plastic pitch to find the corner of the net. City came within inches of levelling before the interval when Nick McCootie got clear only for his shot to roll agonisingly just wide of the far post. The introduction of Andy Watkins at the break gave City added attacking impetus and they began the second half on top. Marvin Morgan had the ball in the net but the linesman’s flag had already gone up for offside. The momemtum City had built was slowly halted as Sutton looked to slow the game down at every opportunity, with the referee helping their cause with numerous stoppages. With Deacon now a much more peripheral figure Sutton were offering little up front, although Max O’Leary did produce one smart stop from a deflected shot. In the end, though, for all their efforts City failed to really test U’s keeper Worner despite a number of promising positions and after four minutes stoppage the referee brought the game, and their 2016-17 FA Trophy campaign, to an end.
George Rigg has become the second City player to extend his contract until the end of the 2017-18 season.
Half Season Tickets and Festive Fives (10/12/16)
With City just about to reach the halfway stage of the 2016-17 Vanarama National League South season the Club are offering two special ticket offers for the remainder of the campaign.
Adults £110.00
Senior/Armed Forces £85.00
Students £60.00
U16’s £10.00
Adults £52.00
Senior/Armed Forces £40.00
Students £28.00
U16’s £8.00
Vanarama Big Day Out 3 (9/12/16)
The Vanarama National League has released details of ticket information for their annual flagship final at Wembley Stadium connected to EE, which takes place on Sunday 14th May 2017 at 3.00pm.
All ticket sales will again be handled direct by Wembley National Stadium Ltd (WNSL) and for convenience to purchasers comes with an option for ‘Print at Home’ (PAH). Tickets will be only be available on line and are priced as follows:
Category 1:
Adults: £20
Seniors (Over 60): £10
Under 16: FREE **
(** 1 free U16 ticket with each ticket sold at Adult or Senior price).
Additional tickets for Under 16 can be purchased at £5 each.
Disabled seating allocation will be available through WNSL as usual for stadium events and details are accessible on line if this is the chosen preference.
Early Bird sales are made even more attractive by no booking fee being charged.
Postal sales will be charged throughout at a standard rate of £2.50 per order (limited to a maximum of 20 tickets per order) whilst £1 will be charged for all PAH sales.
Category 1: £41 (no concessions)
Category 2: £36 and £18 (Under 16’s)
Note:
Actual tickets will NOT be issued to purchasers either by post or available via PAH until the two competing finalist clubs are confirmed. As previously undertaken this assists to ensure seated allocation is made in blocks for any supporters of clubs wishing to be in the same area. In order for this to be offered, when on line transactions are made the purchaser will be required to nominate which National League member club they align themselves to or they may indicate a totally neutral bias and select that alternative on screen option.
Such data provided by the purchaser ensures any supporter of a club who may reach the Final is not disadvantaged by selecting to purchase an Early Bird ticket and they are assured of being in the correct area of the stadium allotted to each finalist club.
City sign U’s Welch-Hayes in loan deal (8/12/16)
City have signed defender Miles Welch-Hayes on loan from Oxford United. The 20-year old, who signed his first professional contract with the League 1 side in May 2016 and has previously had loan spells with Banbury United and North Leigh, will be available for City’s FA Trophy trip to Sutton United on Saturday subject to the completion of the paperwork tomorrow.
McCootie treble leads City to big County Cup win (6/12/16)
City ran out 7-0 winners against Wellington AFC in the Somerset Premier Cup this evening at Twerton Park, with hat-trick hero Nick McCootie leading the way. Despite the final scoreline it took City until first half stoppage time to open the scoring before they ran riot after the break. There were inital signs of the events to come as City created a number of openings without testing the Tangerine’s keeper Sidley-Adams. However, the Western League Division 1 side came back well after this early pressure to give City a few nervous moments. Just when it looked as if the game would reach the break goalless Shaquille Hunter broke free down the left to slot the ball past Sidley-Adams. Five minutes into the second half McCootie fired home from the edge of the box and when, ten minutes later, Josh Hutchinson’s cheeky flick made it 3-0 the floodgates opened. On 64 minutes Chas Hemmings curled home a 25 yard free-kick then McCootie netted number five on 81 minutes. Youth team striker Saikou Janneh turned home Hemmings’ cross-shot five minutes later before McCootie netted his third and City’s seventh with three minutes left.
City will now face a trip to Vanarama National League South rivals Weston Super Mare in the Quarter Final on a date to be arranged.
City left grounded as Wings soar to victory (3/12/16)
City became just the second visiting team to leave Park View Road without three points this season after they lost 3-1 to lowly Welling United this afternoon. They had already lost captain Dan Ball to injury – giving returning Sekani Simpson a quick introduction to the action – when the Wings went ahead in the 7th minute through Coombes’ precise finish. Oakley then saw a header deflected wide and Coombes almost took advantage of a poor back pass by Simpson, Max O’Leary blocking his effort. City were producing little in the way of an attacking threat, Tyler Harvey’s overhit cross, that almost dipped under the bar, giving home keeper Girling a rare nervous moment. However, they nearly levelled right on half time when Andy Watkins’ header from a Ryan Broom cross hit the foot of the post. They only had to wait three minutes after the break to score, though, Frankie Artus looping a header into the net. This seemed to spur the home side into action and, playing down the slope, they began to push City back. This pressure told on 66 minutes when Artus and Nanetti clashed in the box and referee awarded a penalty. Coombes sent O’Leary the wrong way from the spot and ten minutes later he turned provider, setting up Crawford to make it 3-1 and ensure a rare home success for the Kent side.
Applications invited for General Manager post (2/12/16)
Following a hugely successful public appeal which saw 579 people and organisations pledge in excess of £350,000 to help turn Bath City FC into a Community Owned Club, we are now recruiting for a Club General Manager to take on a key central role at the new club.
The Club General Manager will be the “go to” person for the day-to-day, smooth running of the Club, overseeing most commercial elements of the Club, and running the operation of the Stadium during the week and on matchdays.
The successful applicant will be proactive, meeting and networking with people and businesses in and around Bath, and creating a positive impression of the “new” community Club at the heart of Twerton and the wider city.
We expect you to help develop a successful non-matchday business by growing awareness of what we have to offer, and increasing sales, revenue and profitability.
You’ll also help to ensure the infrastructure, health and safety, and facilities of Bath City FC (and any additional facilities brought on site from time to time) are fit for purpose and regulatory compliant.
An ability to run, or at least plan and oversee, the events we host at the ground will be another task we want to excite and enthuse you!
And do all this in a structured and professional manner, communicating with staff and agencies/customers in a courteous and efficient way, so that matchdays and events run as successfully as possible!
You will be supported an existing team of volunteer and paid staff, a skilled and experienced incoming board and dedicated Working Groups developing key areas within the Club.
Read the full job description here.
This is a unique opportunity at what we hope will become one of the highest profile non-league football clubs in the country.
If you feel you have the skills, energy and attitude required to make a success of this role and help forge Bath City’s exciting new future as a Community Owned Club, then apply in confidence to Chairman Elect, Nick Blofeld by e-mail, or by post to:
Nick Blofeld, Bath City Football Club, Twerton Park, Twerton, BA2 1DB
Applications close 22 December 2016
Please note – the new role will become live when the legal formalities of transition to Community Ownership are complete. All funds are in place and we anticipate this will complete in December 2016.
City and Wellington hope it’s 3rd time lucky (1/12/16)
City and Wellington AFC will hope it is 3rd time lucky next week when they make another attempt to play their Somerset Premier Cup 2nd Round tie on Tuesday 6 December at Twerton Park (ko 7.45pm).