Chris Lines admits Bristol Rovers’ close links with Bath City and his own childhood memories helped make his decision that Twerton Park was the best destination for the next stage of his career.
Lines, who made 357 appearances for Rovers over two spells, has been confirmed as a Bath City player for next season’s National League South after two years with Stevenage in League Two.
The 36-year-old admits he’s been naturally drawn back to the West Country, after three seasons of commuting from Bristol to Northampton and Stevenage, but also has been driven by that feeling of nostalgia when stepping foot inside the famous old ground.
Twerton Park was Rovers’ home for 10 years, from 1986 to 1996, and it was the location of Lines’ first football experiences, standing behind the goal and cheering on the blue and white quarters.
“I think probably watching my first ever football match was on the terraces - my first ever games with my dad, watching Rovers,” Lines told Bath City’s YouTube channel . “I spotted where I used to stand so it’s got a bit of history for me. Some good memories and where I started watching football and falling in love with it.
“It was my experience of getting into football. Watching games at 5 and 6 and that gets you into playing football. That was a little factor in my decision, it has such a close link with Bristol Rovers.
"The main memory I had was stood behind the goal against Liverpool. You're watching those games then being able to actually go and do that career is what a lot of kids dream of, so I'm grateful for that but I'm finished yet."
Lines bring obvious experience to the Bath dressing room but also considerable quality having spent all but one of his 16 professional seasons in the EFL with Rovers, Sheffield Wednesday, Port Vale and then latterly Northampton Town and Stevenage.
The midfielder made 37 appearances in all competitions last season despite a revolving door of head coaches at Broadhall Way and insists, ability-wise, he’s confident he'll be operating above the level in which Bath will be playing next season.
The miles accumulated and the pressure on his personal life has meant a switch back to this area of the country works for both him and his family.
“I’ve played a lot of games, it’s been a rollercoaster. I’ve only had 4-5 different clubs and three or four of them mean travelling and being away from Bristol,” Lines added. “I was lucky to be in Bristol for so long and playing for the club I supported.
“Travelling and being away from home, it gets to a point where I was always going to end up in the Bristol area somewhere. Come the end of last season it became more and more apparent that was what I was going to do.
“I said to myself, I can still play League One, League Two but the everyday life of doing that, and being away, it takes over your whole life and you get to a point where you do just want have a couple of days a week doing it and start enjoying other things as well.
“I’ve always, at most teams I’ve been at, played. I’m still fit and ready to play 40 games of a season easily. When players get to my age, that’s quite rare. I guess it’s about how you look after yourself and doing the right stuff off the pitch. My goal is be available for every game, and that’s what it’s been my whole career.”
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