Bath Coach Gary Gold's Voice Used to Scare Away Birds

Bath Rugby have had to resort to drastic measures to scare away a flock of pesky birds that have taken residence on the Recreation Ground pitch.

Work has begun earlier than ever on Bath Rugby’s pitch this summer as the Club look to hit the ground running next season with the best playing surface possible.

However, amongst the industrial machinery and teams of workmen, Mother Nature has inserted an obstacle of her own.

Just hours after the grass surface was completely stripped away and new seed was laid by the groundsmen, hundreds of birds arrived for what appeared to be a feast of legendary proportions.

With attempts to shoo the flock away failing these birds soon began to delay vital works.

Nothing was shifting the persistent creatures and, reaching their wit’s end, the Club hit upon an idea of using the most authoritative voice they had within the ranks as an audio warning to scare the birds away, that of Head Coach, Gary Gold.

Fearing that the pitch would not be ready for his team, he agreed to record a message of warning to be blasted over the PA system at the Rec.

“We stripped away the old pitch last week and laid new seed immediately,” said Head Groundsman Darren Ball, “but the faster we put it down the more birds arrived.” Scarecrows, flags and simply shouting didn’t work so the Club turned to the scariest person they knew and broadcast Gold’s more colourful half-time team talks over the PA system at full volume. “Worked a treat,” said Ball, “so we’ll keep on using it as long as the birds stay hungry.”