Larkhall Athletic Football Club

A Brief History

Larkhall Athletic Football Club was founded in 1914. After a wartime pause, the club

resumed activity in 1951 at Plain Ham, a ground formerly used as wartime

allotments. In 1962, the club added a cricket section and became Larkhall Sports

Club. A long lease from Bath City Council set the stage for growth. The pitch was

levelled in 1975, the clubhouse expanded in 1983 and again in 1996, and Pows Field

was acquired in 1989 for training and event use.

In 2004, drainage and floodlights were installed with support from the Football

Stadia Improvement Fund, followed by the outright purchase of Plain Ham in 2005

through a community-led fundraising campaign. Between 2007 and 2014, major

improvements included additional seating, hardstanding, safety features, and a full

refurbishment of the changing rooms and hospitality areas, officially opened by the

Mayor of Bath in 2013.

The 2014 centenary was marked by several civic events, including a formal

reception and a Centenary Dinner at Bath Guildhall. That year also saw the club

meet FA Grade D standards, enabling promotion to the Southern League and

culminating in a play-off final appearance and FA Cup run with wins against

Merthyr Town and Truro City.

In 2015, two international standard pétanque terrains were installed, making Plain

Ham the home of the City of Bath Pétanque Club. The Larkhall Athletic Supporters’

Club, launched in 2018, became a vital part of the club, contributing to matchday

organisation, ground upkeep, community events, and supporter engagement. That

same year, the clubhouse underwent a full refurbishment with improved

accessibility and facilities.

On the pitch, Larkhall earned Somerset Senior Cup titles in 1975–76 and 2003–04,

First Division championships in 1988–89 and 2008–09, and Premier Division crowns

in 2010–11 and 2013–14—the latter part of a historic double with the Les Phillips Cup.

The club reached the FA Vase Last 16 on three consecutive occasions. The Women's

team (now in abeyance) won the Somerset FA County Cup in 2014–15 and 2015–16, and competed in the FA Women’s Premier League South West Division One,

finishing seventh in 2018–19. The reserve team (now the Development side) came close to promotion in 2014–15, and reached the Somerset Premier Cup final in 2015–16.

The youth section today includes 12 age groups, with a dedicated girls’ programme

and an annual six-a-side tournament drawing over 1,000 players. In 2014–15, the

club was named Somerset FA Charter Standard Community Club of the Season,

highlighting its commitment to youth development and grassroots football.

In 2024, the club completed a landmark ground redevelopment: a FIFA Pro Quality

3G pitch was installed alongside a new 250-seat stand, LED floodlighting, and full

landscaping to ensure accessibility and year-round use. The facility was officially

launched in September 2024 with a celebratory event.

The 2023–24 season ended in disappointment, narrowly missing a play-off spot;

2024–25 began strongly, including progression to the second qualifying round of

the Emirates FA Cup, and concluded with Southern League status being secured for

another season. The club also celebrated young player development success:

midfielder Jake Hicks earned a contract with Weston-super-Mare, while goalkeeper

Arthur Nasta signed with Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers in July

2024.

As we enter our thirteenth season in the Southern League, our aspirations include consistent top-half finishes with promotion ambitions, expanded youth pathways, disability provision, community outreach partnerships, digital and matchday enhancements. We continue to offer all visitors a warm welcome to our beautiful ground.


16	Shaftesbury	17	17
17	Bideford	15	16
18	Melksham Town	15	16
19	Slimbridge AFC	14	16
20	Larkhall Athletic	13	17
21	Paulton Rovers	12	15
22	Bristol Manor Farm	10	18

Larkhall Athletic

Match Outlook

Division One South