Merger Talks Overshadow Local Derby
By Glen Leat
May 3 2003
Bath and Bristol get ready for their titanic relegation clash on Sunday at Ashton Gate against the backdrop of merger talks between the owners of both clubs. This concept is unacceptable in any form and must not happen!
The history of Bath Rugby goes back to 1865
and if supporters found the move to professionalism
to be a shock to the body then a merger with
closest rivals Bristol will be nothing short
of a knock-out punch. In simple terms Bath
Rugby does not need a merger with Bristol
to survive and any move towards this merger,
in whatever format, must be opposed. Forget
all this rubbish about Bath absorbing Bristol
because whatever comes out of the end of
this debacle will not be the Bath FC (intentional
error) we have grown up with.
The problems of both clubs in recent years
have been well documented and whilst the
ground issues and poor performances are an
irritation for Bath supporters they are not
insurmountable. There are clearly compromises
that can be made to ensure Bath meet the
ground capacity requirements, which most
of us have been resigned to very quite some
time, and all teams have to endure the depression
brought about by a drop in form. Think about
how long Glawster fans have had to endure
a team of underachievers but they stuck with
their club and things are going well for
them (and good luck to them).
Bristol have little to bring to a merger,
they have no ground to call their own, severe
financial problems and a general lack of
support from one of the largest Cities in
the country whereas Bath has a ground to
play on (though with problems) is now on
a financial even keel and is supported both
inside and outside the city.
Much is being made of the 20,000 supporters
going to the match on Sunday but we all know
that this has been achieved by special deals
to fill the ground; I have no problem with
this, in fact I would like to see more of
it to make going to rugby more affordable.
But don't imagine that 20,000 would turn
up to watch a merged team or where everyone
has to pay face value on their tickets. Quite
simply the majority of Bath and Bristol fans
will not follow a merged club and so any
thought that simply adding together the combined
average attendances for both clubs will indicate
the new supporter base is an illusion. You
might see 3-4000 people turn up to watch
a game of premiership rugby but you will
not get 13,000 and it is unlikely that "real"
die hard Bath fans will regularly travel
to Bristol or vice versa. I find the idea
of playing some games at the Rec but "the
biggies" at Ashton Gate totally abhorrent
and whoever suggested this idea does not
understand the tribal nature of following
"your team".
All a merger will do is destroy the heritage
of our club. If Bristol go to the wall I
will be sorry for them but quite frankly
that is their problem. I do not wish to sound
selfish but if our survival means they have
to go to the wall then go to the wall they
must. Before anyone criticises me for the
above statement then ask all the Bristol
fans who have stayed away for years and helped
create their cash problems to stand up and
accept responsibility.
If you want to know what Bath Rugby means
to its supporters read this message from
Ade1865 posted on our messageboard:
Only sport?
I have lived and died for Bath for more years
than I care to remember. That relationship
has seen me through many others of the domestic
variety and to see it torn asunder by those
who just do not have a clue is almost too
much to bear. Anyone who was at our first
Cup Final, saw Barnsey miss that kick which
gave us the trophy could ever envisage a
merger. Guess this is ancient history to
many, more's the pity.
Either you live life with passion or you
just let it slip over you. I know which way
I'm for. I would rather see Bath play in
the bottom league than in the ZP as anything
else.
I've never written to anything like this
before but I'm almost inconsolable and my
mother, who played for Bath Ladies until
she ws 50 is mortified. We will get over
it, but I'll probably never make the trip
down from London again, it will be too painful."
Bath Rugby must not merge with Bristol Shoguns
- simple!
If you haven't done so already please add
your name to the online petition set up by
Stuart Anderton - see link below.
To: Andrew Brownsword & Malcolm Pearce |
Oh, and by the way there is a match to think
about but I'm almost feeling too emotionally
drained to even start commenting on it. God
knows what the players must be thinking about
the timing of this merger nonsense. However
Brian Smith is confident his charges will
be prepared, "We have faced a lot of
challenges this season, but the
playing group is very strong and the game
against Bristol is yet another massive challenge
for us. The timing of this news is less than
ideal, but it goes without saying that this
game at the weekend is nothing other than
a very fierce battle. You would be kidding
yourself to think that either team would
be going into this thinking that it does
not really matter."
Mike Catt and Matt Perry are expected to
return following hamstring problems, whilst
Iain Balshaw suffered no reaction after coming
back from a shoulder injury. Dan Lyle is
also available for the first time since January
following shoulder surgery.
Bath Squad
Backs: Iain Balshaw, Olly Barkley, Ross Blake,
Mike Catt, Gareth Cooper, Kevin Maggs, Matt
Perry, Elvis Seveali’i, Mike Tindall, Tom
Voyce
Click on to the Bristol site for their perspective on things.