Recent History

John Relish took over as manager in May 2005 and after coming second in 2006, City emphatically won the Southern League title in May 2007 to earn promotion to the Conference South. Relish left in October 2008 with his assistant, Adie Britton taking over. After successive 8th place finishes, City secured promotion back to the Conference National after finishing 4th and winning the play-off final at Twerton Park in 2010.

After an excellent 10th-place finish in their first season, City endured a miserable season only climbing off the bottom of the division with one game to go. Back in Conference South, after brief flirtations with the top and bottom of the division, City finished 11th but in October 2012 saw a change of manager as Lee Howells took over from Adie Britton. Howells guided City to an improved 7th in 2013-14.

The 2014-15 season saw City lose on penalties to North Ferriby United in the FA Trophy semi-final, the furthest they have got in the competition’s history. Fourteenth place was achieved in the league. Gary Owers was reappointed manager in February 2016 after the resignation of Lee Howells and he oversaw a run of five wins in the final seven matches to preserve City’s National League South status. Throughout the 2016-17 season, they flirted with the play-off positions but inconsistency ensured a 9th place finish. After a promising start to the 2017-18 season Owers left to take charge of Torquay United and former City player, Jerry Gill, was appointed and took the club to a respectable 9th position. City improved on this during the 2018-19 season, finishing 5th and during the curtailed 2019-20 season came fourth but on both occasions have lost at the first hurdle in the play-offs. After the 2020-21 season was aborted, City finished a disappointing 18th during the 2021-22 season but improved to 12th during the 2022-23 season.

Off the field, the club has moved to Community ownership following a successful ‘Back the Bid’ campaign during the past two years. This has given the club greater stability and the ability to move forward on and off the pitch with the redevelopment of Twerton Park the long-term plan. City have a proud FA Cup history having reached the third round proper 6 times. Wins against league clubs along the way have included Crystal Palace, Exeter City, Notts County, Millwall, Southend United, Cardiff City, Hereford United and Grimsby Town.

Form

Fellow play-off hopefuls Bath sit two points outside the play-offs ahead of the weekend, but have a game in hand over St Albans City in 7th place.

The Romans’ form has been indifferent of late, with one win, two draws and three defeats in their last six matches. Before that, City had won five consecutive matches in January/February.

Last Six
16/3 – Chelmsford City (A) – Lost 3-1
12/3 – Hemel Hempstead Town (H) – Won 2-0
9/3 – Farnborough (H) – Lost 0-2
5/3 – Maidstone United (A) – Drew 2-2
27/2 – Braintree Town (H) – Lost 1-2
24/2 – Havant & Waterlooville (A) – Drew 1-1

The Gaffer

Former Yeovil Town, Birmingham City and Cheltenham Town defender Jerry Gill is the Manager at Bath City.

Jerry was named as manager of Bath City in October 2017. This marked a return to Twerton Park having played well over 200 times for the club between 1990 and 1996.

He began his career with Trowbridge Town before spending 18 months at Leyton Orient without making a first team appearance. He dropped back into non-league football with Weston Super Mare from where he joined City in December 1990. Was soon a regular in the side, both in midfield and at right-back, before moving onto Yeovil Town in July 1996. He spent just one season with the Glovers, helping them will promotion to the Conference and earning a call-up to the England National Game XI side. This attracted then interest of 1st Division Birminghan City, who paid £30,000 for his services in July 1997.

During his five seasons with the Blues they reached the League Cup Final and won promotion to the Premier League. After a loan spell with Northampton Town he joined them permanently in November 2002. A serious knee injury sidelined Jerry for the first half of the 2003-04 season and when he returned to fitness he joined Cheltenham Town in February 2004. He went on to spend four seasons with Cheltenham Town, helping them to promotion to League One via the play-offs.

He made his first move into coaching with Forest Green Rovers in October 2008 before bringing playing career to a close at Redditch United for the 2009-10 season. In January 2010 he was named as Weymouth manager but, with the club already in financial troubles, he resigned after 44 days. Since then he has held roles at Bristol Rovers, Birmingham City and Kidderminster Harriers, with his major appointments being at Norwich City as U18 and U23 Coach and then Wolverhampton Wanderers as U18 Coach.

The Captain

Former Newport County defender Kieran Parselle is the skipper at Bath City this season.

A product of Newport County youth academy, signing a professional contract in May 2015 and making his first team debut in August that year, He spent a loan spell at Salisbury during the 2016/17 season before being released by the Exiles at the end of that campaign.

The central defender joined Gloucester City in July 2017 before moving on to Chippenham Town a year later. He spent four successful seasons at Hardenhuish Park, making around 150 appearances for the Bluebirds, where he was named club captain and selected for the 2021/22 National League South team of the year.

Key Player

Scott Wilson is the Romans’ second-top scorer and has featured in each of City’s 38 league matches this season.

After starting his career in the youth set-up at Bristol City he played for a number of West Country non-league sides, including a short spell with City during the second half of the 2013/14 season, before joining Eastleigh in the summer of 2016.

He spent a year on the south coast before moving to Macclesfield Town where he spent two successful seasons, scoring 25 times in 76 games. He joined Oldham Athletic in July 2019 before having spells with Notts County, Dagenham & Redbridge and Aldershot Town. Scott was the 2022/23 top scorer with 24 goals.