Bath City Football Club is being transformed into a community-owned football club following the success of the Big Bath City Bid campaign in achieving its goal of raising £300,000.
The Bath City FC Supporters Society, which organised the bid, announced its triumph more than a day before the deadline. The campaign, which was backed by many firms across Bath, eventually raised a total of £349,843 – giving it nearly £50,000 extra to help repay creditors and build capital towards its final share buyout.
The bid team will now buy new shares in the loss-making club to give it a 51% stake.
Meetings will now be held between the club’s directors and the Supporters Society to finalise the legal transactions. An EGM will be held in the near future to enable the club’s shareholders to vote to increase the authorised share capital and for the new shares to be acquired by the society
The society will then appoint new directors to the board, which will then refinance the club’s debts and go ahead with its plans to redevelop the National League South club’s Twerton Park ground.
This will in turn release further funds to invest in the club and the grounds facilities. Average gates are now around 600 – but the bid team aims to introduce schemes to offer free tickets for local schoolchildren and to attract potential sponsors and backers to games.
Big Bath City Bid project co-ordinator and potential new Bath City chairman Nick Blofeld said: “The Big Bath City Bid was driven by a passionate group of supporters of the club and also those who believe we can make a difference via sport in the local community.
“We all want the best for the club and have a vision for taking Bath City FC forward as a real community asset.
“The effort put in by a wide group of people to get support and encourage people to buy shares has been extraordinary, and thanks must go to all those individuals, businesses and organisations who have responded by listening to us or reading about us and who have generously contributed.
“However, this success is just the first stage of an exciting project for Bath City FC, Twerton and the city.
“As we move the club towards community ownership we need to continue to encourage people to support the club by coming down to watch as well. It’s a great club with a rich heritage and grass roots football is quite an antidote to some elements of the upper echelons!
“We are especially keen to further develop the club as somewhere families can come and enjoy a game and also for use outside matchdays.”
Amongst the high-profile club supporters who encouraged contributions was award-winning film director and lifelong Bath City fan Ken Loach.
“Community ownership means the club will be a hub for lots of different activities in the community, from young mothers with kids to older people taking part in things like walking football, with a centre for community activity.
“With the Bath City Foundation already very successful, we think there is still a lot more we can do, to transform the club and the area.”
Bath MP Ben Howlett was among the first to congratulate the bid team. He said: “Many congratulations to the Big Bath City Bid and all who fundraised to reach the target. This money will really help to deliver high-quality facilities to one of Bath’s top sporting venues.”
Businesses signed up to back the bid include The House, Media Clash, Minuteman Press, Yum Yum Thai and Ignition Strategic Design. Bath Business News has backed the bid and will continue to support the Supporters Society as it transforms the club.
