Recent History
Bath City was formed in 1889 and played at the Belvoir Ground in East Twerton until the 1st World War. After this they played at Lambridge (now the site of Bath Rugby club’s training ground), returning to their roots in Twerton in 1932. The club has been at Twerton Park for the last 87 years.
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 and improved again the following season, finishing in the playoffs in 6th, but they were beaten by Braintree Town in the Eliminator stage.
Form
After a difficult start to the 2024/25 season, Bath City parted ways with First Team Manager, Jerry Gill. He was replaced by Darren Way who has overseen a change in fortunes for the Romans at Twerton Park.
Bath are currently 19th in the league table, but are now 9 points clear of the relegation zone. They have picked up four points from their last two fixtures, with a win away at Salisbury followed by a 0-0 draw at home to high-flying Eastbourne Borough.
Last Six
01/03 – Eastbourne Borough (H) – Drew 0-0
25/02 – Salisbury (A) – Won 1-2
22/02 – Maidstone United (A) – Lost 3-0
15/02 – St Albans City (H) – Lost 0-1
11/02 – Weymouth (A) – Won 0-3
08/02 – Hornchurch (H) – Lost 0-2
The Gaffer
Darren Way was appointed Romans manager in December 2024.
After coming up through the youth ranks with Norwich City he spent the majority of his playing career with Yeovil Town. He was a vital part of the Glovers side who won promotion to the Football League in 2005. In January 2006 he joined Swansea City but his time in Wales was beset with injuries and he returned to Somerset in the summer of 2008.
However, in December that year he was involved in a serious car accident and in February 2010 he announced his retirement having made well over 250 appearances for the club. During his recovery he had carried out coaching and scouting roles for Yeovil and he was appointed officially to the coaching staff after hanging up his boots.
After five years as first team coach, during which team the team climbed to the Championship, in December 2015 he was put in temporary charge of the side then, after six games, made the permanent manager. He spent three years in charge at Huish Park but in March 2019, with the club facing relegation, he was sacked.
In December 2019 he joined Plymouth Argyle as Under-18 manager and would spend three and half years with the Devon club before joining Fleetwood Town as assistant to former Yeovil teammate Lee Johnson. Johnson was sacked in December 2023, where upon Darren also departed the League One club.
The Skipper
Club captain Kieran Parselle joined Bath City in June 2022 from Chippenham Town.
He was 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 top-scorer at Bath City once again this season, having been the top-scorer in both 2022/23 and 2023/24.
Striker Scott is now in his second spell with City, having returned to the club in July 2022, although he is probably best known at Twerton Park for the 90th minute goal he scored against the Romans for Weston Super Mare in March 2016 that preceded Tyler Harvey’s famous stoppage-time double.
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.
