Tears for Fears icon Curt Smith aims to make hometown club the ‘next Wrexham’ with £6.3m Hollywood takeover

TEARS FOR FEARS legend Curt Smith is hoping to help turn his boyhood club Bath City into the next Wrexham. The 65-year-old singer has joined a consortium led by LA-based businessman Andrew Stalbow which is completing a £6.3million takeover of the National League South outfit. Curt Smith hopes to help turn boyhood club Bath City into the ‘next Wrexham’ after joining a £6.3million takeover bid Credit: Getty Tears for Fears star Smith is backing the ambitious bid Credit: Getty Smith, who was born and raised in Bath, will become an ambassador for the club as the new owners look to transform its fortunes. And he has already set his sights on climbing the English football pyramid – with the Football League targeted within five or six years. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Smith told The Telegraph: “The dream is to climb the ladder and get into the Football League in the next five or six years, and have a stadium which can get somewhere close to 8,000 fans again.” Bath currently play in the sixth tier of English football, one division below the National League — the level Wrexham were playing at when Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought the club in 2021. Wrexham subsequently enjoyed an extraordinary rise, winning three promotions in three seasons between 2022 and 2025 to reach the Championship. Smith admits he wants Bath to follow a similar path, although he was quick to point out he is no Reynolds. He said: “I’m no Ryan Reynolds. His level of fame is a lot higher than mine, but I know my reputation is on the line.” Smith, who has sold more than 30million records as part of Tears for Fears, now lives in Los Angeles but returned to his hometown to reassure supporters about the ambitious project. Most read in Sport CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Bath is one of the UK’s most popular tourist spots Credit: Getty Smith said: “The idea began with Andrew. A mutual friend put us in touch. We both live in LA and after speaking with him it was obvious he is a huge football fan who wanted to do this the right way for the right reasons. “I’ve been at the Bath stadium [Twerton Park] when there were only 600 people. “After our bid was announced, there were 1,300 at the next match, despite us just being relegated. To have that sort of effect already is very exciting.” Smith wants Bath to become a major football force in a city traditionally dominated by rugby. Bath is generally dominated by rugby when it comes to sport – something Smith wants to change Credit: Getty Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have enjoyed a lot of success at Wrexham, including winning the National League in 2023 Credit: PA He added: “We want Bath to be known as a football city as much as a rugby city. It’s a lofty ambition, but one that should be doable. There is no reason why the clubs cannot thrive side by side. “The community element of our bid is fundamental to it. I feel like being involved means I can give something back to my city in a tangible way. “Without question that’s a big part of this. I was brought up on a council estate in Bath, so although I live in America now, it feels important to be able to get involved in this way.” The new owners are also promising to clean up Bath’s finances while investing in the squad and infrastructure rather than chasing instant success. Smith said: “We’re taking away debt and investing in the team. “We want to become a professional club, first. That would be a huge jump for us. We’ll do it bit by bit.” For Smith, the Wrexham blueprint proves what can happen when a club combines investment with community backing. But the Tears for Fears star knows the hard work starts now, with the goal to make Bath a Football League club. Comment now