Groundtastic GT23 | Page 34

Western League Floodlights The last club with scholastic connections to play in the Western League were Exeter based St Luke’s College, who left the left the league in 1979. Following on in their tradition are a newly formed side Team Bath who are based at the University of Bath. A £6 million sports village has been created on the playing fields next to the university and Team Bath is the name of the umbrella organisation under which the various sports teams connected to the university compete. The football section play at the recently completed athletics stadium (pictured right), a state of the art facility understandably more geared towards competition and training than spectating. Built into the sports hall that runs alongside the running track are a couple of raised balconies, mixed in with which are two small areas of seating. There is a floodlighting system at the stadium but at present the lights are directed at the running track rather than the football pitch. The University of Bath is situated at Claverton Down, high on the hills above Bath, a mile or so east of the city centre. First time visitors to the complex will no doubt be confused by the railed off pitch that confronts them as soon as they enter the university grounds (pictured left). Featuring a bank of uncovered wooden terracing, this pitch is used by University of Bath’s Somerset Senior League side who play in Division Two of that competition. Groundtastic page 34 Issue 23