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So What Made You Support Bath Rugby? Part Six
By Glen Leat
June 27 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 sixth 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 Bathgal has to say...

When did you first start supporting Bath Rugby?
Supporting or watching? I was taken to The Rec as a kid to watch Bath play the Welsh clubs - but always supporting the Welsh Clubs. My allegiance changed after going to my first Bath Cup Final in 85 (with Melksham RFC).

What made you a supporter?
Was brought up in a Welsh rugby mad family so didn't have any choice but to love the game!
Regarding Bath - JP - and that my father bought me a season ticket (cost £15!) when I moved to Bristol in 87 - so that at least he'd see me every other Saturday!

Can you remember anything about the first game you ever saw at the Rec?
Not really but it would have been a Welsh team, probably a Rag Doll match. Oxtail soup?

What has been your best moment as a supporter of Bath Rugby
Twickers in the 80's

What has been your worst moment as a supporter of Bath Rugby?
Ashton Gate without a doubt - followed by losing the Leeds Cup Final - really, really wanted to say that we had never lost a Cup Final!

Who do you regard as the best player of all time for Bath?
Really difficult. For the heights he reached (ie the Lions) it has to be Jerry. But loved watching the sublime playmaking from SB & JP & Catty. And for a clubman putting his all into a game - think of those forwards from the past Dawsey & Robbo et al. Cannot pick one overall!

Which players from the Golden Decade do you think would be a success in the modern game?
Most of them - given that they would be professionals ie not holding down another job as well! The training might be a challenge for some though (aye JP?)

Which opposition player (from any era) would you like to have moved to Bath and why?
Would really like a rampaging back row at the moment!

How confident are you that Bath Rugby will be at the Rec in five years time?
More confident now than a year ago....

Describe what Bath Rugby means to you in three words.
Never in doubt!

 

What else can I say? Here is ....JayJayBarrellie The Primadonna

When did you first start supporting Bath Rugby?
About 15 years ago, but not really into the team till I went to Uni there, I grew up in South Wales and my team of choice was Cardiff. I always liked Bath because of the style of play and the players in the squad were always exciting to watch. But when I gave up going to Cardiff every other week to watch the Blues, my friend took me and next thing I know I was there most weeks. I had a little stint with the development, not much came of it, but I did play against them with the Uni team.

What made you a supporter?
Just the love of the game, its killing me over here in Canada, because I'm only playing here and there and I haven't seen a game for over a year!!!! But its my love of the game that makes me a supporter.

Can you remember anything about the first game you ever saw at the Rec?
Cider

What has been your best moment as a supporter of Bath Rugby?
Playing against them and meeting Ieuan Evans after tackling him on the goal line and holding the ball up for no try, my greatest moment for me and as a supporter.

What has been your worst moment as a supporter of Bath Rugby?
Now...... not being able to watch or see you guys in the bar for a sing song

Who do you regard as the best player of all time for Bath?
I don't know....... But I'm a very big supporter of Maddog. But you can't forget the golden era guys too.

Which players from the Golden Decade do you think would be a success in the modern game?
Guscott, so professional, still has a lot to give too

Which opposition player (from any era) would you like to have moved to Bath and why?
Lomu, he came to Cardiff and I loved seeing him, but him in the hoops would be a dream

How confident are you that Bath Rugby will be at the Rec in five years time?
Very

Describe what Bath Rugby means to you in three words.
Mine's a cider......

Here he is, the ERE star shirt maker......Robhino....whooo hoooo

When did you first start supporting Bath Rugby?

During the ' 91 World Cup

What made you a supporter?

Just remember being drawn in by the support during the RWC and living near Bath it became natural to take more of an interest in the Bath players in the England side, and then Bath itself.

Can you remember anything about the first game you ever saw at the Rec?

It was a home match with Leicester during the 91/92 season - can't remember a huge amount about it other than being amazed how close you were to the action being only feet away from Rory Underwood.

What has been your best moment as a supporter of Bath Rugby?

The obvious answer would of course be the European Cup final in Bordeaux - I remember covering my eyes every time JC lined up a kick and the immense relief and outpouring of joy at the final whistle.  Having said that, for the drama, the occasion, the despair-to-delight, and what it would have meant for the future of the club if it hadn't happened, I think I'll have to go for Elvis dancing down the touchline to score against Irish in 2003.  When Cooper broke blind from the scrum, I was out of my seat, when Elvis skinned whoever it was on the outside I felt like I was running with him, and when he scored in the corner I remember my brother and I were about 15 yards from our seats and being showered in beer by a bloke who had thrown his arms up in the air in celebration caring little for the tray of pints he was carrying.  The prospect of Bath going down, merging with Bris to form the Wessex Stormers and effectively killing the 2 clubs would have been truly born had we lost that game.  Victor's corner, or Belly's corner it may have been referred to at various points and for deserved reasons, but that part of the ground will always be Graceland to me.

What has been your worst moment as a supporter of Bath Rugby?

Probably about every other part of the 2002/03 season apart from the above!

Who do you regard as the best player of all time for Bath?

Tough, though question.  I think Guscott was the most talented, Dawe the most committed, but there was always something about Dan Lyle that I found intriguing.  I remember him dragging the whole team on his back from a likely looking defeat to Quins at home (maybe Dec '98?) to an unlikely victory.  All the skills, so much ability and always looked like he was enjoying just playing the game and how much playing for Bath meant to him.  Oh, and add to that the public apology over turning out for Tigers, right the way up to his email and photo the other week.  Class act.

Which players from the Golden Decade do you think would be a success in the modern game?

Would have to say Graham Dawe - one of the most committed and determined players there has ever been.  Can't help thinking a lot of today's players could learn a lot from his 'professionalism'.

Which opposition player (from any era) would you like to have moved to Bath and why?

Struggling to think of anyone who would have had a better impact than Martin Johnson - leadership, determination, incredibly work ethic - all the things that instill the right mentality and bond a team together.  Flair players like Sella or Blanco, or the power of a healthy Lomu would have been a joy to watch, but Johnson the player was an out and out winner who lead by example.

How confident are you that Bath Rugby will be at the Rec in five years time?

Not as confident as I'd like to be.

Describe what Bath Rugby means to you in three words.

Passion, Emotion, Family.

 

And in this batch we round off with one of the best board names around....Captain Offensive

When did you first start supporting Bath Rugby?

1984 Cup final was my first game aged 11 I guess I would have been then.  Not a bad day to get started - as q3 is specifically about the Rec I can mention here instead watching from the space designed for the tv cameras at the top of the (now old!) south stand as the Barrel's kick skimmed past the post.

What made you a supporter?

My Dad - took me to as many games home and away as possible right up until I left home to go to Uni - in fact even then at holidays he once drove me back home to Warm from York with all my worldly goods in the car an managed to get us a detour to Rugby where the boys were playing that day.

Can you remember anything about the first game you ever saw at the Rec?

 Despite my answer in Q1 my first game at the Rec was actually in 1983 - maybe even 82(?!?) and was Somerset v Glawstershire.   Main thing I recall was the banter from both fans and players alike and me jumping over the hoardings pitch side to run up and down the line following the game - something I did many times in the following years.

What has been your best moment as a supporter of Bath Rugby?

 It does seem a bit obvious but 98 in Bordeaux did have that incredible feeling of the end of a long journey.  Think we all knew then that the glory was passing (hell even the cup in 96 felt like a last throw from that great team) which made getting that top prize that little bit more special.  92 Cup final was probably the other occasion that really comes to mind - that was too close!

What has been your worst moment as a supporter of Bath Rugby?

Despite the efforts of the past few weeks It has to be a toss up between the general as the club declined into the professional era; and the much more specific Moseley 4-3 Bath  defeat in 87-88: - that really hurt - I wasn't used to losing cup games!

Who do you regard as the best player of all time for Bath?

Graham Dawe - don't have to think for more than 1 second there.

Which players from the Golden Decade do you think would be a success in the modern game?

Dawe definitely - the sheer guts and determination are second to none - Guscott, Hill, Swift, Trick, Barnes, Spurrel, Hall, Robinson, Callard, Redman and Haag - would take a lot of work for some of those guys - but no doubt they'd put it in (apart from Jerry maybe!)

Which opposition player (from any era) would you like to have moved to Bath and why?

Would have to think of players I've seen in oppo - Johnson, Dallalgio (pre 2003!), Underwood (R), Leonard, Teague spring to mind straight off

How confident are you that Bath Rugby will be at the Rec in five years time?

Not very - I hope we're still there but only if its right for the club as well as right for the City (which it certainly is)

Describe what Bath Rugby means to you in three words.

Never in Doubt

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