Page 29 - Bath City v Havant & Waterlooville - Tuesday 19 January 2021 - VNLS (v2)

BATH CITY HERO TONY RICKETTS

one for City amid murmurings of player unrest and
after weeks of speculation either side of Christmas,
the long serving centre back joined rivals Yeovil Town
for a £7,500 fee having turned down an offer to join
Weymouth. In all he made 115 appearances for the
Glovers, netting seven times and helped them earn
promotion back to the Conference during his stay at
Huish Park.
It was Les Alderman who pulled off a masterstroke
by re-signing Tony in November 1988 for a fee
of £10,000 and the returning defender made 38
outings scoring two goals as City avoided successive
relegations. A year later, he was superb in the side
that earned promotion back to the Conference and
registered his 400th appearance in February 1990
in the home win over Moor Green. The following
Another in our series of Bath City Heroes, this evening year, with City struggling to maintain their newly won
we take a look back at a man who is one of only three Conference place, they sacked manager George
players ever to make 500 appearances for the Black Rooney and Tony was handed the caretaker reins. In
and White Stripes. After arriving from Western League an inspired move by the City board the combative
football, he went on to not only become one of the player manger saw his side lost just three of their
best defenders in Conference football but also enjoy a final 14 matches and he earned the job permanently,
hugely successful spell as Bath City manager… having kept City up when all looked lost.
Born in Bath on the 21st June 1959, Tony played Under his management City were often not pretty
locally for Western League side Clandown before but mightily effective and they improved to 9th place
joining City in July 1979. He was signed by manager in 1991/92 before finishing 7th in 1992/93. After
Bob Boyd ahead of the 1979/80 Alliance League guiding City to a giant killing FA Cup win at Cardiff
season as the former Minehead and Frome Town boss City, he masterminded a run to the 3rd round in
reshaped the Twerton Park squad. 1993/94 where his zenith surely came in holding First
The young centre half was in the team which played Division outfit Stoke City to a 0-0 draw at the Victoria
their first ever Alliance (Conference) League fixture Ground. Although having ostensibly retired from
at Boston United, a 3-2 defeat and despite taking a playing at the end of the 1992/93 season, he was
while to adjust to the step up, went on to make 50 forced out of retirement, did to injuries during the back
appearances in that first campaign. end of the 1993/94 season and over the next couple
of years made sporadic appearances. In April 1995
The following year, under new manager Stuart Taylor, his substitute appearance in the Somerset Premier Cup
Tony began in the reserves and indeed netted for the win over Taunton Town saw him break Tony Gough’s
Western League side on the opening day in a 2-0 win all time appearance record, but with increasing
at Bristol Manor Farm. He was also on the scoresheet financial issues and a dwindling budget, he resigned
in a win at Torquay United Reserves before fighting his as manager on the eve of the 1996/97 season.
way back into the side, going on to make 46 league
and cup outings as City improved to a 6th place. His Tony went on to manage Trowbridge Town and
first goal for the first teams arrived in Febraury 1981 in Brislington before a spell coaching the ladies team
a 2-0 home win over Wealdstone. at Bristol Rovers. He later returned to non league
management with Weston-super-Mare and finally
48 appearances followed for "Ricko" in 1981/82 Paulton Rovers.
before, along with goalkeeper Dave Mogg, he was
appeared in all 52 league cup matches during City's Without doubt, for several seasons through the 1980s,
10th place finish in 1982/83. The tall central defender Tony was one of the best defenders in the Conference
also scored two goals in a good personal campaign. and his commitment and reliability were huge assets.
In September 1983 the Bathonian celebrated his His move into management was unexpected but
200th appearance in the defeat to Barnet before after making a big success in his rôle as caretaker,
he netted in successive games in the same month in he established City as a Conference side that were
defeats at Runcorn and Nuneaton. Once again he was difficult to neat, often in one of the division’s lower
ever present along with keeper Dave Mogg, recording budgets. Without doubt, his 519 appearances and 19
54 outings and 4 goals. In 1984/85 City finished 4th, goals, together with his five years as manager, make
their highest pyramid finish to date and Tony made 53 him a true Bath City hero.
appearances, scoring twice in an excellent season. ADAM MATRAVERS
The start of the 1985/86 season was not a happy
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