Former Plymouth Argyle attacker Alex Fletcher has departed National League South side Bath City, the club have officially confirmed.
Born in Newtown Abbot, Fletcher joined the Devonshire outfit in 2008 where he would spend 14 years whilst progressing through the youth set-up and eventually graduating as a senior professional in 2017.
Furthermore, the then 18-year-old marked his full professional debut in the EFL Trophy, facing Chelsea’s academy, where he netted a late brace at Home Park before the hosts proceeded to win the tie on penalties.
Across two seasons in League One, Fletcher appeared 19 times whilst finding the net against Fleetwood Town. However, during this time, Fletcher had two separate National League loan spells with Torquay United and Aldershot Town respectively.
One final loan move saw the forward finally find his shooting boots. Joining Southern League Premier South Division, Tiverton Town in December 2019 on an initial one-month deal, the then 20-year-old recorded eight goals in just eleven appearances for The Yellows.
Upon the expiry of his contract with Plymouth and the coronavirus pandemic stretching many clubs’ finances, a permanent move to Ladysmead transpired. Unsurprisingly the star attacker continued where he left off and netted eight goals before securing a move to Bath City for an undisclosed fee.
In his first full season with the National League South side, and without the complications of Covid-19, Fletcher returned an impressive 16 goals. Regarded as one of the division’s top finishers, the 2022/23 campaign was one full of optimism.
After an incredible start, and seven goals to his name, a freak accident resulted in near tragedy.
On the 8th of November 2022, The Romans hosted Dulwich Hamlet at Twerton Park, although the fixture would be abandoned following a major head injury which left Fletcher in a critical condition.
Challenging for a ball, the then 23-year-old crashed into the advertisement hoardings surrounding the perimeter of the pitch. Due to his unresponsive nature, an air ambulance was called and the young man was moved into an intensive care unit.
After recovering from a coma and undergoing intensive physiotherapy, Alex Fletcher finally returned to the beautiful game ten months later, sporting a headband in a fixture against Hampton and Richmond Borough in which the scoreline was almost irrelevant.
Speaking after the game to ITV, Fletcher stated:
“It feels like a dream. It was a bit surreal really. I knew I was going to be involved today. I’ve been working, building and training for the last few months with pre-season so to finally get back out there felt really good.
“It was a bit surreal because of the position I was in ten months ago, I wasn’t so sure this day would come. But for it to finally be here, it’s been a long wait. It means a lot.
“It feels like a long time. It’s been ten months. So the first few months were just getting back on my feet to begin with and learning to walk again. So to come from taking my first steps and then to now, I feel like a different person.”
Across 72 appearances, the 24-year-old was instrumental, contributing 28 goals as well as 10 assists, as per Transfermarkt.
Writer’s View
The news of his departure from the Somerset club has been met with warmth and overwhelming support, and whoever is lucky enough to secure the attacker’s services have a remarkable and heroic young man on their books.
To come back from such a serious injury shows real determination, drive and fearlessness which are excellent qualities to possess, not only in football but in life as well.
