Bath City Football Club has welcomed a new chapter in its history with the confirmation of a £6 million takeover by a consortium that includes legendary 1980s pop-rock star Curt Smith, frontman of Tears for Fears.
Curt Smith, who also serves as the club’s ambassador, hinted at his involvement on Instagram, sharing a photo of Bath City’s home ground, the Cannon Clarke Stadium, with the caption “And in other news…”
The acquisition follows a year-long process, facilitated by the club’s advisors, Carteret, who introduced the Bath City Holding Company. This investor group has successfully raised over £6 million in a seed funding round, aiming to propel both the men’s and women’s teams up the football pyramid. Alongside ambitions on the pitch, plans are in place to develop Football League-standard infrastructure and to strengthen the club’s ties with its fans and the local community.
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Andrew Stalbow, the new executive chair, expressed his enthusiasm: “I’m excited to announce that we’ve completed the deal today after 15 to 16 months of preparation. We’re truly at the starting line now.”
He extended gratitude to the shareholders, fans, board members, supporter society, supporters' club, and volunteers for backing the initiative. He also thanked the investor group for their commitment, emphasising the unique partnership that will unite supporters, the city, the community in Twerton, players, coaching staff, operating team, and investors.
“Our role is to unlock Bath City’s potential and transform the club. Our work starts today,” Mr Stalbow added.
Potential investors from across the globe are expected to visit the club this weekend on Saturday, 12 September, to attend the home match against Chippenham Town.
James Powell, CEO of Carteret, praised the new ownership group: “Andrew has brought together an exceptional group of investors behind a very ambitious plan for the club. The scale of investment is remarkable at this level of English football. We are delighted to have facilitated a transaction that we believe can be transformational for Bath City.”
Curt Smith, a native of Bath, co-founded Tears for Fears with Roland Orzabal in 1981. Their debut hit, “Mad World,” achieved Gold status in 1982 and gained renewed fame through its inclusion in the film Donnie Darko. The band enjoyed further success with iconic songs such as “Shout” (1984) and “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” (1985), the latter becoming a defining anthem of the 1980s and frequently featured in film and television.
Founded in 1889, Bath City currently compete in the Southern Premier Division South following relegation from the National League South last season. The upcoming match against Chippenham Town will take place at Cannon Clarke Stadium on Saturday.