So What Made You Support Bath Rugby? Part Nine
By Glen Leat
July 12 2009
ERE as a website has been in existence since 2000 and as a concept since 1991 and over the years I’ve got to know many people whom otherwise I wouldn’t have met. We meet, we chat but for most I don’t know why or how they came to support Bath Rugby and I thought now was the time to address this.
I looked through my e-mail address book and sent out a list of questions. Here is the ninth series of replies from my ERE friends. I'd like to hear from many others so, if you want to supply me with your responses to the questions please e-mail me at glenleat@btinternet.com.
Let's see what long time EREite Tipton Tog has to say: When did you first start supporting Bath Rugby? It was around 1984 when I was in the Midlands knowing that I would be moving down south to Bath to work. At first it was odd trips through the season and seeing them play other Midlands teams. Then headed south with work. Initially bought tickets on a match by match basis - stood for hours before games to get the best stand on the "flowerpots" - now been a season ticket holder now for 23+ years. What made you a supporter? I have always supported the team where I live. I lived at the time opposite "The Reddings" where Moseley played rugby and had been taken there since a boy watching some great games. I had played a bit up until I was 16 when I took up athletics seriously. Watching Bath was always special in the 80's when they had that certain something that transcended the norm. Can you remember anything about the first game you ever saw at the Rec? It was one of those games against a Welsh side, Cardiff I think, tribal. What has been your best moment as a supporter of Bath Rugby? No doubt about it - winning the HC. Though Haagy winning me a good few quid as I had him as first try scorer in the Wasps JP Final at Twickenham was pretty memorable too. What has been your worst moment as a supporter of Bath Rugby? These recent goings on - I feel let down by the players and to some extent by the club management as it seems they have not learnt the lessons from lesser ‘public' indiscretions over the years. Who do you regard as the best player of all time for Bath ? For me it has to be Dawsey - the epitome of all that makes rugby so good. He had dedication, an iron will and a fearlessness that shall never be matched. Which players from the Golden Decade do you think would be a success in the modern game? This is a hard one because, in their day, they were all "professional" in the way they trained and what they did on the pitch because they lead club rugby by example. The ones who could make a difference would be Ollie Redman, Steve Ojomoh and Andy Nichol. Which opposition player (from any era) would you like to have moved to Bath and why? I would love to have seen David Duckham run the wing for us another graceful finisher. How confident are you that Bath Rugby will be at the Rec in five years time? The heart of Bath Rugby belongs on the Rec and provides the pulse to the city. Without that pulse the City would be much the poorer. With the track record of the City Fathers I really don't know. Describe what Bath Rugby means to you in three words. Passion, Obsession & Recreation And Finally... As well as being innovative on the pitch Bath also lead the field in the 1980's & 1990's in terms of satisfying the fans. We cannot underestimate the work that Glen & ERE have done both for our Club and the local rugby supporting community as a whole. The paper version of the fanzine was brilliant and I was proud to be a ‘ball boy' or whatever they were called (Ballpersons - sponsors of ERE). This then evolved in true Darwinian fashion onto the "tinternet" version we now enjoy providing me a daily infusion of rugby wherever I am around the world.
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TCM 2007 dragged himself away from his recent spat with OFP to offer up his own history of being a supporter of Bath Rugby: When did you first start supporting Bath Rugby? 1990, started joining the annual exodus to Twickers to see what all the fuss was about. Watched Glaws get spanked in the sunshine and was hooked. What made you a supporter? Started off going to just the big games, but the World Cup of 91 was when the rugby bug firmly bit, and I signed up as season ticket holder in the Flowerpots for the following year. £75 IIRC. Can you remember anything about the first game you ever saw at the Rec? One of the first was a South West vs (I think) Midlands game which was on the same day as the Bath Beer Festival, where I had just met my future wife for the first time. Don't remember much of the match though... What has been your best moment as a supporter of Bath Rugby? Bordeaux of course, but Leicester away in the HC a couple of years back wasn't bad. Many, many great away trips in Europe ware highlights; the very first one (Treviso in 96), any excuse to visit Brive or Venice, the wonderful San Sebastian, mad Dublin... good times. Individual moments - Elvis; Swifty's winning try in that topsy turvy game at Quins. What has been your worst moment as a supporter of Bath Rugby? The last six months of drugs and sleaze, without question. Even the relegation battles don't compare. Who do you regard as the best player of all time for Bath? Hard to see past Guscott, but my daughter is named after Adedayo Adebayo - or as close as I could get in a girl's name! Which players from the Golden Decade do you think would be a success in the modern game? Hill, Clarke, Lyle Which opposition player (from any era) would you like to have moved to Bath and why? Martin Johnson; towering leader by example. How confident are you that Bath Rugby will be at the Rec in five years time? Very - if only because I can't see us raising the money to leave! Describe what Bath Rugby means to you in three words. Rain, friends, airmiles
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On to Ellie 10: When did you first start supporting Bath Rugby? I have always said I'd love to have Sergio Parisse playing for Bath - I think he's a phenomenal player and is very easy on the eye as well! My main passion.
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We finish up with two great stalwarts of ERE, Susanne and Cmonbath When did you first start supporting Bath Rugby? 1999 What made you a supporter? We got fed up arguing over the 5 Nations (Cmonbath is English, Susanne is Scottish). Bath was our bolt hole and we eventually worked out that there is some great rugby played in the City, so we pitched up to a match (see below) and the rest is history! We live in Watford and the more obvious choice for us would have been Sarries (although Sarries hadn't moved to Vicarage Road when we first discovered Bath Rugby). ERE has played a big part in keeping us ‘ere - we started meeting more and more people and socialising around the rugby - too many friends now to even contemplate changing! Oh, and there is Cmonbath's not insubstantial collection of Bath shirts - 40+ at the last reckoning! - so it would be too expensive to try and find a new team. It seemed cheaper to move house (see below). Can you remember anything about the first game you ever saw at the Rec? Bath v West Hartlepool in April 1999. We stood as we had just pitched up at the gate looking for tickets (you could then) and there were no seats left. Seem to remember that we stood in front of the West Stand, near the visitors' bench. Quite a lot of action and some robust exchanges of views! At the end the guy in front of us turned to his mate and said "Couple of tries, couple of punch ups - good value for a tenner!" and that about summed it up really! Started coming more and more often until the car could pretty much find its own way from Watford. One year we nearly didn't get to the Wasps home game (until Cmonbath won tickets from the Chron - but that's another story) and it was so distressing an event (for one of us anyway) that we became Season Ticket holders the next season (2004/05). And have now decided that all the driving is just silly so we are trying to move to Bath. So thanks Bath Rugby and ERE - we've found our spiritual home! What has been your best moment as a supporter of Bath Rugby? Susanne - Probably the HC semi final in San Sebastian. Although we lost, it was our first experience of a big away trip and we had such a great time that the losing lost its sting a bit. Cmonbath - Butch's try against Leicester at the Rec this season. What has been your worst moment as a supporter of Bath Rugby? Susanne - all the shenanigans since the end of season party - felt sick! Cmonbath - losing to Leeds in the Powergen. Who do you regard as the best player of all time for Bath? Susanne - too difficult to answer! So I'll answer based on my girlie (and probably sexist) basis and say I've always found it hard to decide whether Phil de Glanville or Matt Perry had the better legs! Cmonbath - Gotta be Dan Lyle. Not for the legs ‘tho. Which players from the Golden Decade do you think would be a success in the modern game? Susanne - not around then so can't really answer that - we need to start a new Golden era! Cmonbath - Victor. All round athlete. Which opposition player (from any era) would you like to have moved to Bath and why? Susanne - probably Gavin Hastings - always thought he was great and he was part of the Grand Slam winning Scotland team in 1990. Although, can I choose him as his playing career predates me supporting Bath? If not him - Chris Patterson. He should have come the other year. Bath and Edinburgh are cities with similar vibes - he would have been much happier here than up the road and might have stayed south of the Border for longer! Cmonbath - Olly Barkley. What? You don't say ... How confident are you that Bath Rugby will be at the Rec in five years time? Confident. We'd better be - we don't intend to move again! Describe what Bath Rugby means to you in three words.
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