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Bath Killer Bees

In 2006/07, the Killer Bees were rebranded under the University of Bath sports colour scheme of royal blue and gold, leaving behind the black and yellow which the club had played in since its formation in 1992.

Despite no longer being the colour of ‘Killer Bees’ the club has kept its name, inspired by the team’s colours and sponsor at the time of formation.

The Killer Bees formed in 1992 following a group of hardcore football fans/players spending Sundays practising at the university with no formal club arrangement. A group of students led by Steve Bamford, Pete Davies and Andy McKay proposed the formation of an official club to the Bath University Athletic Union; and within 6 months of the initial proposal, the Bees began League play in 1992-93.

Shortly before the start of the season, the Bees drafted in Pat Snooks, at the time offensive co-ordinator of the Bath Gladiators, to take over head coach duties from Pete Davies. The first ever Bees match took place on November 1st 1992 at Bath where the visitors were the reigning champion Southampton Stags. Despite being thoroughly beaten on the day (losing 70-0), the spirit shown by the players of the Bees laid the foundations for years to come. The first year saw two wins over local rivals Bristol Bullets and a last-minute loss to the Oxford Cavaliers; a strong showing for a rookie team in a tough division. The Oxford game, the second of the season, produced Bath’s first points: Olly Cruickshank scoring a safety, followed by the Bees first ever touchdowns, a Gary Buckley TD run and a Leon Gumpert TD pass to club founder Steve Bamford.

In their second year, Snooks began laying the foundations that, down the line, would turn the Killer Bees into one of the best teams in the League. One of the highlights of the year was an inspirational 18-6 victory over Southampton.In the 1995-96 season the Killer Bees developed a super defense, led by linebackers Wayne Davis and Matt Warner. Giving up only 26 points all year, they went 5-2-1 and earned a wild-card position in the playoffs. The dream season ended in the third overtime period of the playoff game with Cardiff, as a safety gave the Cobras a 10-8 victory. In 1996-97, led by Davis, who was named national defensive player of the year, the Killer Bees won their first division title, which was followed by their first playoff victory, a 14-0 win at UEA Pirates. The next week, their season ended with a 20-6 loss to Tarannau Aberystwyth.

In the 2002-03 season they were denied a playoff berth even though they attained a 6-2-0 record. It was becoming apparent that the South West Division would be hard for any team to compete in. The Killer Bees have made the last four BCAFL/BUAFL playoffs (2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07 & 2007-08). This is an impressive run given that they are still in BCAFL South West / BUAFL Southern Conference Western Division, which is widely regarded as the toughest division in the League. In their 15th season (2006-07), not only did they switch to the aforementioned blue and yellow uniform scheme, they also only lost to one team all year, the Bristol Bullets, who were crowned BCAFL Champions 2006-07.

The 2007-08 BUAFL season saw the Killer Bees post their first unbeaten regular season, including two narrow victories over the defending Champions. In the first round of the playoffs, they gained the team’s second playoff victory (a 39-0 defeat of the Royal Holloway Vikings). However, their season ended the following week with a hard-fought loss to the eventual champions, the Southampton Stags. This meant that for the second year running, the only defeat(s) suffered by the club were to the eventual National Champions.

The University received its Royal Charter in 1966, but it can trace its history back to the Bristol Trade School of 1856, which from 1885 came under the patronage of the Merchant Venturers’ Society as the Merchant Venturers’ Technical College.

In 1949, when it came under the control of the Bristol Education Authority, the College took the name of the Bristol College of Technology; it changed again in 1960 to the Bristol College of Science and Technology when it became one of the ten Colleges of Advanced Technology administered by the Ministry of Education.

Building on the Bath site began in 1964, with the first building being completed in 1965. Over the subsequent ten years or so the bulk of the building took place, with staff transferring from Bristol department by department. The basic plan of the campus was devised to enable extensions to be undertaken without undue disturbance, and to separate out, as far as possible, pedestrian and vehicular traffic. In assuming its present form, the University has generally held true to the original development plan.

Building, and rebuilding to equip the campus with the latest facilities, continues. In its teaching and research the University is still strongly oriented towards the sciences and technology, but with a very successful School of Management and Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. In 2000, the university became a multi-site institution with the opening of its Oakfield campus, the first phase of its development in Swindon. Bath has placed in the top ten for both the Times and Guardian University Ranking tables and is currently ranked second in the BUCS championship.

Famous alumni include the CEO of the Sainsbury’s chain Justin King and numerous international sports people including Dr Stephanie Cook MBE and Dr Kristen Bromley.

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