{"id":849389,"date":"2026-09-16T04:42:17","date_gmt":"2026-09-16T04:42:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/849389\/"},"modified":"2026-09-16T04:42:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T04:42:17","slug":"tears-for-fears-star-curt-smith-backs-8m-bath-city-fc-takeover-in-wrexham-style-bid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/849389\/","title":{"rendered":"Tears for Fears star Curt Smith backs $8M Bath City FC takeover in Wrexham-style bid"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tears for Fears<\/a> star Curt Smith sang about ruling the world \u2014 and now he is backing a Hollywood-style bid to transform his hometown soccer club into the next Wrexham<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Smith, 65, co-founder of the \u201980s hitmakers, is among the investors in an LA-led consortium that has taken over Bath City Football Club, and will serve as the club\u2019s celebrity ambassador.<\/p>\n

The group has pumped more than \u00a36 million (about $8 million) into the club in southwest England.<\/p>\n

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The investors hope to emulate the extraordinary success of Wrexham AFC, transformed into a global brand after its acquisition by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The \u201cEverybody Wants to Rule the World\u201d singer grew up in the working-class Snow Hill area of Bath, before finding worldwide fame with Tears for Fears, and finally making Los Angeles home in 1998.<\/p>\n

He told the California Post of his latest gig: \u201cI prefer to remain pretty lowkey. Becoming \u2018the face\u2019 as an ambassador runs against what I would normally do.\u201d<\/p>\n

A young Curt Smith performs on stage with Tears for Fears. Redferns<\/p>\n

Wrexham co-owners Ryan Reynolds, left, and Rob Mac, right, are seen in the stands before the Sky Bet Championship match on Aug. 22, 2026, at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham. PA Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cBut because it\u2019s my hometown, I think it\u2019s an important thing for me to do,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n

He hopes the investment will help Bath City climb the English soccer pyramid while revitalizing Twerton, the neighborhood where the club\u2019s stadium is located.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t take it away from the community and just be doing this for profit. You have to give back to them,\u201d Smith explained. \u201cWe can leave an area of the city in a better space than it is now. If that happens, that would be fantastic.\u201d<\/p>\n

Andrew Stalbow, co-founder and CEO of Seriously, leads the LA-based group backing the effort. Getty Images<\/p>\n

The investor group is led by British-born LA technology and entertainment entrepreneur Andrew Stalbow, who helped turn Angry Birds into a global entertainment franchise before cofounding Santa Monica mobile-gaming company Seriously.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019d be able to do this if it wasn\u2019t for LA,\u201d Stalbow told The Post.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ability to build a brand that is interesting globally, raise venture capital and tell stories in an interesting way \u2014 that\u2019s Los Angeles.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause it\u2019s my hometown, I think it\u2019s an important thing for me to do,\u201d Smith told the California Post. WireImage<\/p>\n

Stalbow said the group plans to produce daily behind-the-scenes videos documenting Bath City\u2019s progress, creating a real-time version of the formula that helped turn \u201cWelcome to Wrexham\u201d<\/a> into a global hit.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything I\u2019ve learned in Los Angeles around content production, distribution and partnerships is going to allow us to stand out and differentiate the club. We\u2019ll be creating a daily video behind the scenes of the club that I think will be interesting not just to people around Bath and in the UK, but around the world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Smith and Stalbow aim to emulate the success of Wrexham, which was elevated by Hollywood stars Reynolds and McElhenney. Facebook \/Bath City Football Club<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the opportunities we have is to do everything in a much more live environment than waiting for the end of the season,\u201d Stalbow added.<\/p>\n

Stalbow said he was inspired to invest in a soccer club by viewing sporting events in LA.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve experienced LAFC, LA Galaxy, the Lakers, the Clippers and NFL games,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s such a brilliant sporting experience in America for the fans.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201dIn the UK,\u201d he continued, \u201cfootball fans traditionally get in five minutes before the game starts and leave straight after. Here in the US, I wanted to get there early because the food was so good,\u00a0the view was good \u2014 it was just such a fun experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bath City FC \u201cis way down the leagues in the English football pyramid, but it has all the foundations to be amazing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Cannon Clarke Stadium at Twerton Park. Google<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can take over ownership but not really treat ourselves as owners. We\u2019re custodians, and we\u2019re partners with the club, the city and the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bath City currently plays in the Southern League Premier South, the seventh tier of English soccer, after being relegated from National League South last season.<\/p>\n

Stalbow said after the deal was completed on Sept. 10: \u201cOur role is to unlock Bath City\u2019s potential and transform the club. Our work starts today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSilver\u201d (Rachel Bloom) and \u201cRed\u201d (Jason Sudeikis) embrace their children \u201cGlider\u201d (Walker Scobell), \u201cJune\u201d (Emma Myers) and \u201cOlly\u201d (Psalm West) with their pet \u201cFuzzy\u201d (James Austin Johnson) in \u201cThe Angry Birds Movie 3.\u201d ZUMAPRESS.com<\/p>\n

Smith regularly attends Los Angeles Football Club, which counts actor Will Ferrell among its ownership group, and has been a season-ticket holder since the club launched in 2018.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you go to an LAFC game, it\u2019s really the closest I\u2019ve seen to an English football game,\u201d Smith said. \u201cThey\u2019re loud and involved.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smith, married to longtime wife Frances Pennington, said he looks forward to returning to Los Angeles after a hectic tour schedule with his band.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love the consistency of the weather and the space \u2014 the fact that you can be in a big city and feel like you live in the country,\u201d he told The Post.<\/p>\n

\u201cComing back to LA is still a relief to me. This is our home.\u201d<\/p>\n

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