The Chronicle is to sponsor Bath City next season as the club begins a battle for new success on and off the field. A future vision for the Twerton Park club was outlined amid celebrity support at a business dinner last night.

The event was attended by Timsbury-based actor Anthony Head, famed for his role in Buffy The Vampire Slayer, who backed the club's efforts to encourage local firms to lend financial support.

Bath Newspapers, publisher of The Chronicle, was drawn as the sponsor whose name will be on players' shirts in the coming season.

Mr Head said an initiative led by fans to buy back the majority shareholding in the club had provided the main impetus for him to get involved.

But a little cajoling from film director Ken Loach, a long-time supporter of the club and a former member of the Twerton Park board, also played its part.

He said: "Ken Loach called me and said 'Did I know about Bath City Football Club?' and I had to say no.

"Now that I know the whole story and now that I'm here tonight I can see why this is so important.

"He told me about the supporters having taken over the board and that basically the club itself was now self-sufficient and that Bath City is his passion.

"He is a hero of mine and so when he asked if I would come here tonight I couldn't say no.

Basically, if Ken Loach is behind it, then I'm behind it - he is a great man of British cinema for me and it was such a privilege to be asked."

Sandra Young, the newly appointed commercial manager at the club, which is in the Dr Martens Premier Division, gave a presentation to the assembled diners, outlying the ways in which they could help.

She said new packages and promotions as part of the Bath City Means Business campaign would see school groups invited to matches in an effort to get younger fans on board for the future.

After screening video clips featuring the star of the BBC's Royle Family, Ricky Tomlinson and football commentator Bob Wilson, who both urged fans to get behind the club, she added:

"Visitors are impressed by the facilities here and they are impressed by the enthusiasm and the commitment we have for our club.

"Our first goal will be to encourage businesses and individuals to come to the ground and come to see a game. We can't guarantee that we will win but we can guarantee you will enjoy the experience."

A number of firms had paid to enter a draw in which their names were put into a hat - with the one pulled out becoming the shirt sponsor.

Bath mayor, Cllr Loraine Morgan-Brinkhurst, pulled out Bath Newspapers and Tony Harrison, the Chronicle's sports editor, accepted on the newspaper's behalf.

He said: "The committee here have done a magnificent job over the last 24 months and I can assure you that we will continue to back you fully. Let's get Bath City back on the road and back in the Conference and knocking on the door of the Football League as soon as we can."

** Article supplied by kind permission of The Bath Chronicle.