FA Cup
Bath City return to action this weekend
After Bath City cancelled their friendly against Torquay United on Saturday due to injury worries, the Romans are back in action this weekend as they host Winchester City in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup.
The National League season is going ahead as planned, despite the government’s announcement that fans will not be allowed into stadiums for potentially another six months. To protect its clubs as best it can, the National League have been in talks with the FA and government to secure a financial package to help with the substantial loss in revenue clubs are likely to face this season.
The league campaign for Jerry Gill and his side actually gets underway next Saturday when they host Billericay Town.
One player looking forward to the new season is Jack Batten who returned to full training a few weeks after nearly 14 months out through injury.
Speaking to Bath City Radio’s Mark Stillman, he said: “I’ve been back in full contact for a couple of weeks now and yeah feeling good. Still a little way off it but it’s coming back training session by training session and I’m just glad to be back. Obviously it’s been a long time coming.
“I had to wait about two-three weeks for an operation and then once I had my operation I was on crutches for a few weeks but the directive was just to get walking as quick as possible so I was trying to ditch them as soon as I could and then I was back running before Christmas.
“So it wasn’t too bad and then obviously the Coronavirus hit and it put a bit of road block in the way but it was all back on plan to come back training in March but that kind of got put on hold a bit.
“All the staff have been brilliant, right the way from Paul [Williams] the chairman all the way down to Si who looks after the kit. Everyone’s been really supportive especially the medical team because they’re the people that I’ve dealt with day to day. They’re a real help to everyone, not just me, and they’ve been brilliant.
“I’d like to think I’m pretty sound mentally whenever I do get an injury or sort of a setback like that, I kind of just put it to the back of my mind and just continue to go forward, but it is hard when you’re in the gym on your own and everyone’s out training and over the winter when it’s dark evenings and you’ve got to go twice a week and sit up in stands and watch the lads every single week, it does get tough.
“But you kind of set yourself little goals and keep yourself occupied mentally. It’s been a long road but hopefully now the light’s at the end of the tunnel.”
Ahead of the new season, Bath have released their new kits. Returning to Errea, the bold black and white stripes return as you’d expect for the home kit, but the away kit is going to be a striking orange one. For fans wishing to purchase a shirt, it is recommended that you order a size up due to the Italian snugger sizing.