Meet the team behind the Big Bath City Bid.
STEERING GROUP |
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Martin Powell - Chair
A retired teacher who has supported Bath City since the mid 60s and rarely misses a match. In recent years Martin has been a member of the Supporters Club committee, organising over 300 coach trips to away fixtures, is a trustee of the Community Sports Foundation and present chair of the Supporters Society.
"Having supported Bath City since the 1960s, I am convinced that the club should now move in a new direction with supporters having a real say in the way that it is run. Also, a community owned club would create exciting possibilities for the city and the surrounding area."
A retired teacher who has supported Bath City since the mid 60s and rarely misses a match. In recent years Martin has been a member of the Supporters Club committee, organising over 300 coach trips to away fixtures, is a trustee of the Community Sports Foundation and present chair of the Supporters Society.
"Having supported Bath City since the 1960s, I am convinced that the club should now move in a new direction with supporters having a real say in the way that it is run. Also, a community owned club would create exciting possibilities for the city and the surrounding area."
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Nick Blofeld - Project Co-ordinator
Nick is the former chief executive of Bath Rugby and previously served as a trustee of the Bath Rugby Foundation. Working with chair Martin Powell, Nick is responsible for driving the community ownership project forward, including developing a business plan and interim Board structure. "I'm a big believer in sport in the wider community and this is a great opportunity. I've seen the power and impact of community involvement. The club will appeal more as a social enterprise rather than as a solely commercial club. I think there are ways of improving the club and creating stronger engagement with the city." |
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Cheryl Bradley - Treasurer and Secretary
Cheryl is a long-time City supporter who has volunteered extensively in a number of roles throughout the club and its Supporters Club. Drawing on her professional administrative experience, Cheryl serves as the Bid's treasurer and secretary. |
Shane Morgan - Board Representative of the Supporters Society
Shane serves on the club's Board of Directors as the official representative of the Supporters Society, as well as serving as the club's Safety Officer. Well-known and well-respected among City supporters, Shane brings vast operational expertise to the Bid team as we plan for a future community-owned club.
Shane serves on the club's Board of Directors as the official representative of the Supporters Society, as well as serving as the club's Safety Officer. Well-known and well-respected among City supporters, Shane brings vast operational expertise to the Bid team as we plan for a future community-owned club.
Steve Bradley - Business Plan
Steve Bradley has supported Bath City FC since attending the University of Bath as student, and has previously served as Chair of the Supporters Society. Steve is a committed advocate of community ownership in football and pushed successfully for the Supporters Society to adopt it as official policy in 2013. Steve has worked in marketing for global organisations Procter & Gamble and Walt Disney, before establishing his own business as a consultant on sustainable regeneration.
Steve Bradley has supported Bath City FC since attending the University of Bath as student, and has previously served as Chair of the Supporters Society. Steve is a committed advocate of community ownership in football and pushed successfully for the Supporters Society to adopt it as official policy in 2013. Steve has worked in marketing for global organisations Procter & Gamble and Walt Disney, before establishing his own business as a consultant on sustainable regeneration.
Nick Thompson - Football Plan
Nick has been a football fan for pretty much all of his life. He saw his first game, between Hull City and Holbeach Town in a pre-season friendly in 1965 or 66. Nick is also passionate about community engagement having created the award winning “KC in the Community” programme and led fan engagement with Hull City. He is Chief Executive of Bath-based Gradwell Communications and is part of Bath’s business community.
“I have become part of the Big Bath City Bid because in Bath City I see a club whose commercial performance has failed to match the playing achievements. Where we stand now I see community ownership as the opportunity to revitalise Bath City, place it at the centre of the Bath life and build a solid future for a club with a proud history.”
Nick has been a football fan for pretty much all of his life. He saw his first game, between Hull City and Holbeach Town in a pre-season friendly in 1965 or 66. Nick is also passionate about community engagement having created the award winning “KC in the Community” programme and led fan engagement with Hull City. He is Chief Executive of Bath-based Gradwell Communications and is part of Bath’s business community.
“I have become part of the Big Bath City Bid because in Bath City I see a club whose commercial performance has failed to match the playing achievements. Where we stand now I see community ownership as the opportunity to revitalise Bath City, place it at the centre of the Bath life and build a solid future for a club with a proud history.”
Ken Loach - Liaison with Supporters Direct
Film director.
“A football club can mean so much more than a game on alternate Saturdays. It can be a hub for social connections, links with schools, a place for family celebrations, a real centre for popular activities. That is our dream for Bath City, a club owned and run democratically to benefit the whole community. Help us make it happen!”
Film director.
“A football club can mean so much more than a game on alternate Saturdays. It can be a hub for social connections, links with schools, a place for family celebrations, a real centre for popular activities. That is our dream for Bath City, a club owned and run democratically to benefit the whole community. Help us make it happen!”
William Heath - Advice on Community Share Offer
Entrepreneur, chairman of Mydex CIC, partner in Kelston Tump LLP which owns Kelston Roundhill and former chair of the Open Rights Group. William moved to Bath in 2010 and became one of the co-founders of The Bell Inn (Co-op) which bought the popular Walcot Street music pub in 2013.
"Football is about players, fans and participation. We can't have it dominated by Sky TV, oligarchs and leveraged buy-outs. Bath is brilliant at so many things; I'd love to see it create and maintain the UK's best community-owned and managed football club."
Entrepreneur, chairman of Mydex CIC, partner in Kelston Tump LLP which owns Kelston Roundhill and former chair of the Open Rights Group. William moved to Bath in 2010 and became one of the co-founders of The Bell Inn (Co-op) which bought the popular Walcot Street music pub in 2013.
"Football is about players, fans and participation. We can't have it dominated by Sky TV, oligarchs and leveraged buy-outs. Bath is brilliant at so many things; I'd love to see it create and maintain the UK's best community-owned and managed football club."
Pete McCormack - Business Plan and Redevelopment
Pete first started following City in 1968 and after almost 50 years he is still here! Now an exile, his family still lives in Bath and Pete gets back regularly to support the team.
Pete is also Chief Executive of a housing Association in Derby. Pete knows the value of community and how Bath City FC can be a positive force in Bath for many years to come.
"I have followed Bath City FC for almost 50 years and after a lot of ups and downs it is clear to me that community ownership is the only way we can give the club a solid future rooted in the City and with the widest possible involvement of its people."
Pete first started following City in 1968 and after almost 50 years he is still here! Now an exile, his family still lives in Bath and Pete gets back regularly to support the team.
Pete is also Chief Executive of a housing Association in Derby. Pete knows the value of community and how Bath City FC can be a positive force in Bath for many years to come.
"I have followed Bath City FC for almost 50 years and after a lot of ups and downs it is clear to me that community ownership is the only way we can give the club a solid future rooted in the City and with the widest possible involvement of its people."
Helpers and Advisors
Sally Harris - Community and Social Impact
Sally was born and bred here in Bath and works as the Communications Officer at local charity Age UK Bath & North East Somerset. She is a co-opted member of the council’s Bath City Forum, Secretary of Bath Amnesty and a keen activist within several local campaign groups. Her experience of football thus far has been limited to the Walking Football sessions she helps to co-ordinate for older people in Odd Down and Twerton, but she is a new fan of Bath City FC and a staunch advocate of community ownership, knowing the power that sport has to unite communities.
“The potential of Twerton Park and Bath City FC to transform and invigorate the surrounding community is absolutely huge, so I’m really excited to be involved in enabling the ongoing input of local residents, charities and organisations.”
Sally was born and bred here in Bath and works as the Communications Officer at local charity Age UK Bath & North East Somerset. She is a co-opted member of the council’s Bath City Forum, Secretary of Bath Amnesty and a keen activist within several local campaign groups. Her experience of football thus far has been limited to the Walking Football sessions she helps to co-ordinate for older people in Odd Down and Twerton, but she is a new fan of Bath City FC and a staunch advocate of community ownership, knowing the power that sport has to unite communities.
“The potential of Twerton Park and Bath City FC to transform and invigorate the surrounding community is absolutely huge, so I’m really excited to be involved in enabling the ongoing input of local residents, charities and organisations.”
Michael Clayton - Pledger Liaison, Social Media, 1000BC
Michael (pictured right, about to run the line at Twerton Park as a stand-in linesman!) is a long-time Bath City supporter and is responsible for developing a customer segmentation and marketing strategy for 1000BC, a joint initiative to raise attendances. He handles the Bid's social media presences and is the first point of contact for any Bid supporters contacting the Bid via email.
Michael (pictured right, about to run the line at Twerton Park as a stand-in linesman!) is a long-time Bath City supporter and is responsible for developing a customer segmentation and marketing strategy for 1000BC, a joint initiative to raise attendances. He handles the Bid's social media presences and is the first point of contact for any Bid supporters contacting the Bid via email.
Oliver Holtaway - Newsletter, 1000BC, researching club constitution, structure and policies
Head of PR and communications at The House, a Bath-based brand agency. He is also Secretary of the Bath City FC Supporters Society and chair of 1000BC, a joint initiative to increase attendances.
"We have to get Bath City more connected to every part of the city, so that everyone is aware of the club's amazing potential as a community asset. For me, community ownership would send a strong signal that the club is open to fresh ideas and new talent."
Head of PR and communications at The House, a Bath-based brand agency. He is also Secretary of the Bath City FC Supporters Society and chair of 1000BC, a joint initiative to increase attendances.
"We have to get Bath City more connected to every part of the city, so that everyone is aware of the club's amazing potential as a community asset. For me, community ownership would send a strong signal that the club is open to fresh ideas and new talent."
Jon Bickley - former Bid chair
Founder and MD of Bath-based Anthem Publishing, Jon has lived in Bath for 22 years and supported Bath City since 2003. His company employs 21 people locally and was recently named “Independent Magazine Publisher of the Year”. Jon is a lifelong Plymouth fan, but now watches five City matches for every Argyle encounter.
"The Big Bath City Bid is a great opportunity to transform Bath City into a club that makes the most of the energy and expertise of Bath’s modern business economy, improves our playing prospects on the pitch and makes a positive difference to our community. Short of bringing the seaside to city, a great football club is the one thing Bath’s missing!"
Founder and MD of Bath-based Anthem Publishing, Jon has lived in Bath for 22 years and supported Bath City since 2003. His company employs 21 people locally and was recently named “Independent Magazine Publisher of the Year”. Jon is a lifelong Plymouth fan, but now watches five City matches for every Argyle encounter.
"The Big Bath City Bid is a great opportunity to transform Bath City into a club that makes the most of the energy and expertise of Bath’s modern business economy, improves our playing prospects on the pitch and makes a positive difference to our community. Short of bringing the seaside to city, a great football club is the one thing Bath’s missing!"
Simon Tapscott - media, marketing and community engagement advisor
MD of Do Good Things, a marketing agency for charities and good causes. Bathford-based Simon is an FA football coach for Bradford Town Youth FC, a ‘Media Buddy’ for Bath Spa University, sits on the Bath & North East Somerset board for Quartet Community Foundation, and is a lifelong Swindon Town fan.
"Bath has been a rugby city for so long that football has become something of a secret whisper - yet just a few decades ago Twerton Park was packed to the rafters match after match. Rugby and football aren't mutually exclusive - let's have a world class rugby club AND a progressive, community owned football club we can all be proud of".
MD of Do Good Things, a marketing agency for charities and good causes. Bathford-based Simon is an FA football coach for Bradford Town Youth FC, a ‘Media Buddy’ for Bath Spa University, sits on the Bath & North East Somerset board for Quartet Community Foundation, and is a lifelong Swindon Town fan.
"Bath has been a rugby city for so long that football has become something of a secret whisper - yet just a few decades ago Twerton Park was packed to the rafters match after match. Rugby and football aren't mutually exclusive - let's have a world class rugby club AND a progressive, community owned football club we can all be proud of".
Phil Weaver - Bath City FC director
A director of the current Bath City for 15 years who is in charge of maintenance and repairs at Twerton Park. This includes climbing the pylons to replace floodlight bulbs. He has supported Bath City since the late 50s and was one of the founders of the Supporters Society in 2001.
“I love 'real football'. My favourite City banner expresses this by saying "Aquae Sulis - Terraces not armchairs". Bath City is already a rich tapestry of community work, via the Foundation, Bath City Youth, the Academy and the University; making the club community-owned will enrich this even further and make it sustainable.”
A director of the current Bath City for 15 years who is in charge of maintenance and repairs at Twerton Park. This includes climbing the pylons to replace floodlight bulbs. He has supported Bath City since the late 50s and was one of the founders of the Supporters Society in 2001.
“I love 'real football'. My favourite City banner expresses this by saying "Aquae Sulis - Terraces not armchairs". Bath City is already a rich tapestry of community work, via the Foundation, Bath City Youth, the Academy and the University; making the club community-owned will enrich this even further and make it sustainable.”