Fans organisation Supporters Direct has chosen Twerton Park, home of Bath City FC, for the launch event of a new national network of community-owned football clubs.
The event, on Thursday 23rd February, will bring together community-owned clubs from across the South West to discuss how local football can create positive social outcomes.
Amongst the clubs attending will be community owned Merthyr Town who will share how their club went from being liquidated in 2010 under private ownership to being named UEFA’s grassroots club of the year five years later.
James Mathie, Head of Club Development at Supporters Direct, said: “We are delighted to be kicking off these network meetings for community owned sports clubs at Bath City.
“Following a tremendous campaign which won the hearts of Bath and Romans supporters it seems like the perfect place to bring together clubs at different stages of their journey.
“We hope the network will get clubs better connected to share ideas as well as inspire more to follow this increasingly popular path.”
The event comes as democratic members organisation Bath City Supporters Society prepares to take a majority stake in Bath City FC, having raised over £350,000 last September in a community share offer.
Nick Blofeld, chair-elect of Bath City FC, said: “We’re very heartened by the support we’ve received from Supporters Direct and other community-owned clubs. It’s vital for us to learn from the experiences, both positive and negative, of clubs who have already been on this journey.”
Since achieving the fundraising target, representatives from Bath City Supporters Society have held discussions with community-owned clubs Lewes FC, Cork City FC and FC United of Manchester, as well as attending SD Europe’s fan ownership summit in Malmo, Sweden, last November.
The national network programme is funded by Power To Change, a national organisation that supports community businesses.
