Curt Smith, co-founder of chart-topping band Tears for Fears, has joined a consortium buying non-league Bath City. The pop star hopes the National League South side can scale the football pyramid just like Wrexham.
Ambassador role and fan impact
The 65-year-old will take up a role as ambassador. He noted the immediate effect of the bid: “I’ve been at the Bath stadium [Twerton Park] when there were only 600 people. After our bid was announced, there were 1,300 at the next match, despite us just being relegated. To have that sort of effect already is very exciting.”
Smith, born in Bath and now based in Los Angeles, flew home to reassure fans about the £6.3m takeover, led by businessman Andrew Stalbow. He said: “The idea began with Andrew. A mutual friend put us in touch. We both live in LA and after speaking with him it was obvious he is a huge football fan who wanted to do this the right way for the right reasons.”
Ambitions and community focus
Smith outlined his goals: “The dream is to climb the ladder and get into the Football League in the next five or six years, and have a stadium which can get somewhere close to 8,000 fans again. We want Bath to be known as a football city as much as a rugby city. It’s a lofty ambition, but one that should be doable. There is no reason why the clubs cannot thrive side by side.”
He acknowledged the comparison to Wrexham, bought by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in 2020, now in the Championship. “I’m no Ryan Reynolds. His level of fame is a lot higher than mine, but I know my reputation is on the line. If it goes wrong I won’t be able to walk around in my home city again.”
Investment and gradual progress
Smith emphasized the community element: “The community element of our bid is fundamental to it. I feel like being involved means I can give something back to my city in a tangible way. Without question that’s a big part of this. I was brought up on a council estate in Bath, so although I live in America now, it feels important to be able to get involved in this way.”
He added: “We’re taking away debt and investing in the team. We want to become a professional club, first. That would be a huge jump for us. We’ll do it bit by bit. We can’t do everything at once when we’re in the seventh tier. It’s a question of spending the substantial investment wisely over the years. Each year we can go further.”
