It all started with Caleb’s great idea. “It’s your birthday soon, why don’t we get hospitality tickets for Bath City?”
Naturally, I said yes. There was no hesitation – let’s spring for the finest football City can offer, just this once.
With our seats assured in the hospitality lounge and a two-course dinner ahead of us, we arrived just after noon at Twerton Park. Bath City were hosting Havant & Waterlooville in this Vanarama National League South battle and the home side were keen to capture a fourth successive victory.
We’ve been to see City countless times, but never like this. It would prove to be an unforgettable day.
We met the lovely Jan outside the ground, who ushered us inside via the player’s entrance. Who was the first face we bump into through the door? Only Jerry Gill of course, long-time City manager and provider of the warmest welcome possible. Somehow Jerry was expecting us, knew it was my birthday, and gave us a tour of the changing room.
There we were, Caleb and I, a couple of regular joes, within the inner sanctum of Twerton Park! Jerry proudly talked us through some of the changes he’d ushered in since taking over as the boss. We even got a tour of the old baths, now fitted with showers, but very much operational. Jerry could not have been nicer as he fielded our questions and encouraged our photo-taking.
After we’d pushed the limits of their hospitality in such a sacred space, Jerry and Jan led us up the player’s tunnel and onto the magnificent green pitch. They were both busy people with numerous matchday tasks to complete, and were content to leave us unattended as we soaked in the view from field-level. It was remarkable just how much you notice the incline of the pitch, something we hardly see from our usual spot on the terraces.
Before long my friend Alex joined us pitchside. City fans will recognise Alex from Bath City Radio as well as the club’s Youtube highlights, where he regularly commentates for the Romans, home and away. We noticed the City dugout was vacant and took the risk to park our backsides on the home bench for some respite from the sun. We savoured our time there, feeling enormously lucky to have such incredible access to our local club, but we scarpered pretty quickly when the coaching staff emerged from the tunnel to begin their work.
Alex led Caleb and I to the TR Hayes Premier Lounge, our new home for the afternoon. Jan was there again to show us to our table and we settled down to watch the early Premier League match with a cold pint of Cornish Tribute. Whilst we watched Sheffield United and Everton play out an entertaining game on the tele, I was taken by the range of framed historic City shirts adorning the walls around us. I’m a football kit fanatic so they were bound to pique my interest and I spent a good while taking in each one, remembering some very fondly, whilst experiencing others for the very first time.
Eventually duty called for Alex and he left us for the press box to begin his preparations ahead of a busy afternoon commentating. A short time later dinner was served, a wonderful roast chicken dinner prepared by Jan and her kitchen team. Everything was cooked perfectly and it was followed by my favourite dessert of all time, cheesecake. I was in my element and enjoying every minute.
Club Director Peter Headington dropped by our table to say hello, and delivered printed copies of the team sheets before kickoff. Peter had one more gift in store for us: with it being my birthday and all, Peter asked if we would like to choose the Man of the Match, and I’m sure you can imagine we wasted no time accepting the responsibility. What an unexpected honour!
With the match about to get underway, we left the comfy confines of the lounge (how will we ever go back to slumming it on the terraces), and found our reserved seats in the grandstand. In all the years Caleb and I have been to Twerton Park, we have never sat down, so this was a new experience for the pair of us. Our view of the pitch could not have been better. Just before the game began I recognised the familiar voice of Mark Stillman, the club’s PA announcer, wishing me a happy birthday over the tannoy. I know Alex must have put him up to that!
It was a perfect summer’s day when the referee blew his whistle and City midfielder Tom Smith kicked things off.
We did not have to wait long for action: after just 10 minutes, a free kick from the right flank found the head of captain Kieran Parselle but the defender’s header was tipped away by the Hawk’s goalkeeper Ross Worner. It didn’t go far enough though, as Jordan Dyer and Scott Wilson were waiting at the back post to convert the loose ball. Dyer’s scuffed attempt only found the woodwork but thankfully the alert Wilson made no mistake tucking the rebound into the net to give City the early lead.
After breaking the deadlock, City were content to let Havant maintain the majority of possession for the rest of the half. The hosts played well without the ball, seemingly not worried or threatened, and held their shape. For all their control of the ball, Havant struggled to seriously pose any danger to City’s defence.
At half time Caleb and I ventured back to the lounge and found two more pints of cold Tribute waiting for us at our table. Jan was taking excellent care of us. We discussed the talking points from the opening 45 minutes and started to shortlist our candidates for Man of the Match. Peter said he would come and find us shortly before the final whistle for our verdict.
The second half soon began and City got off to a fast start, almost doubling their lead instantly. Wilson dispossessed Havant of a loose ball in midfield and had an open pitch ahead of him, with only the ‘keeper to beat. Wilson sprinted clear towards goal but his finish was well saved by Worner, who stood tall to deny the City striker. That old striker’s adage of having ‘too much time’ reared it’s ugly head.
The veteran forward made amends quickly when, on the hour mark, he bagged his second goal of the afternoon. Some lackadaisical passing by Havant’s defenders was pounced upon by Wilson, who used his acceleration to steal in behind and collect an errant backpass. With the centre back holding his head in his hands, he could only watch helplessly as Wilson coolly took the ball around the ‘keeper and slotted home to make it 2-0 to City.
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you our clear frontrunner for Man of the Match.
The rest of the game passed by with relative calm and City kept Havant at arm’s reach. The home side had a few nice chances to extend their lead but on a hot and humid day, City managed their energy well and saw the match out professionally. They captured all three points and the clean sheet for good measure.
Just before the referee called an end to matters, Peter appeared, and asked us for our Man of the Match. Everybody played well for City, genuinely, but one man stood out for us, the goalscorer Wilson. Peter accepted our selection and told us he’d meet us back in the lounge shortly.
The game was over and City were great value for their 2-0 victory. With other results going their way, the Romans suddenly found themselves top of the league as well, an added bonus! We applauded the players and coaching staff from the field, before returning to the lounge once more.
Jan had yet again produced two more pints of Tribute at our table and I sat down to pour the bottle of beer into my glass. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a black and white striped figure in my peripheral vision, just to my left. I turned, looked up, and saw Scott Wilson standing right there in front of me, smiling from ear to ear.
I shook Scott’s hand (I call him Scott now since we’re pals) and Peter joined us to explain that Caleb and I had chosen him as the day’s top player. Scott was terrific and made natural smalltalk with us for a good while. We were full of praise for his performance, which he graciously accepted. We chatted about the best moments in the game and I found it fascinating when Scott mentioned his disappointment at the opportunity he saw saved in the early moments of the second half; I thought to myself that was such a striker’s thing to say, to still be thinking about the chance he missed rather than the brace he scored. As a striker myself in my playing days (*cough, yeah sure*), I understood him entirely.
Finally, Peter escorted our small group outside to do the honours: I got to hand Scott his award-winning bottle of champagne and we posed for photos before saying goodbye – he could not have been a nicer guy, and earned himself a pair of fans for life.
Eventually we left the lounge but not before saying a fond farewell and thank you to Jan, for surpassing our every expectation and being the most incredible host. We made it to Charlie’s Bar in time to see Alex conduct the post match interviews with Jerry and our good friend Scott. Everyone in the bar was revelling in the victory and it was a fitting finish to an exceptional afternoon.
At long last and with great reluctance, we called it a day and headed home. I want to thank everyone at Bath City for giving me a day I’ll always cherish and remember. Special thanks must go to Jan, Jerry, Peter, Alex and Scott for going the extra mile.
Supporting your local non-league club doesn’t usually include these luxury frills, like meeting the manager and handing the star striker a bottle of champagne.
But Bath City made it happen for me, and I’ll be forever appreciative.
Day At The Football 