LARKHALL ATHLETIC | ON A ROLL

From Switzerland with love for Matt Bowman

It’s been quite a journey for Matt Bowman to reach the Southern League with Larkhall Athletic.

“I was born and raised in Switzerland,” he told us. “I played academy football most of my life at Servette FC in Geneva.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t get offered a contract so left to play at regional level for a while in Geneva. I then got trials at Blackburn Rovers FC with the U23s, which went well but ultimately I didn’t get offered a contract.

“I then decided to come to University at Bath to study and continue playing football at a good level.

“It was whilst playing for the university that I joined the Development team at Larkhall Athletic and then moved up into the first-team.

“I played the whole of the 2022/23 season at Larkhall as we agonisingly missed out on making the play-offs and enjoyed a memorable day in the FA Cup during the following season against Bath City, before returning to Switzerland for a placement year as part of my studies.

“It was whilst I was playing for a fourth tier team over there that I tore my ACL in pre-season of 2024 and it kept me out for a whole year.

“I’ve been working hard on my rehab and now I am back at University in Bath and back on the pitch for Larkhall, which is a great feeling.

“I’m feeling sharp and I’ve been pleased with my performances so far. There’s always room for improvement, but we’re getting there

“Being out for so long certainly makes you appreciate what you have and I am enjoying being back in action and part of things here.

“It’s been a decent start to the season too. We’ve played some good stuff and been unlucky in a few of the games we’ve lost not to have taken something.

“If we can eradicate the little mistakes, it will make a big difference. This League is good this year; there’s a mix of everything, from teams who want to play out from the back, to those who go long.

“It all makes for an interesting competition and one that is great to be part of. Our aims as a team this season are to push for the play-offs. It won’t be easy, but we know we have the capability to do it.

“If I could weigh in with at least ten goals from my position, then I would be happy and it would be a big help towards our team goals.”

The very nature of the Pitching In Southern League Division One South has been summed up in Larkhall Athletic’s last two games. Firstly, they beat in-form Hartpury before succumbing last weekend at a Didcot Town outfit who have made a slow start to the season.

On Saturday they head to Willand Rovers who had a new manager ‘bounce’ last weekend with Ben Watson’s first game at the helm seeing them become the first team to take points off Frome Town as they beat them 1-0.

IMAGE: Larkhall Athletic FC

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