Bedford FC

[Rhodes]

A groundhopper from another Forum was at Champion Hill yesterday (Sunday 27 April) to witness Real Bedford Ladies only Women's FA National League Division One South East defeat of the season against a very good Dulwich Hamlet Ladies side despite their lowly table position:

Champion Hill - Dulwich Hamlet 3 Real Bedford 1 - FA Women's National League Division 1 South East (Level 4)
Attendance 580, Admission £5/£2.50, Programme £3
The hosts came from a goal down at half time to prevail against the divisional champions, inflicting a first league defeat of the season in their final game.
Hamlet were close to taking the lead in the first minute when a clearance was vigorously headed back towards the edge of the Bedford box by Mia Searle, and Angie Dunbar-Bonnie chased through to lift a 20 yard chip over Gemma Biggadyke that rebounded from the crossbar. Bedford began to get on top and home keeper Saskia Reeves-Priestley had already been stretched on a couple of occasions before her defence was breached midway through the half, when rangy forward Breon Grant broke clear on the right and picked her spot with a clinical finish into the far corner of the net. Hamlet centre back Morgan Searle was close to a memorable equaliser after running past a string of challenges from deep, only to agonisingly stumble with only the keeper to beat. Dunbar-Bonnie had to go off after falling awkwardly late in the half, but her replacement Jess Francis-Weir made an instant impression by meeting a headed clearance with a fierce rising shot that was touched over for a corner.
Ten minutes into the second half Hamlet were level when Nat Taylor controlled the ball perfectly on the edge of the box and cleared Biggadyke with a beautifully weighted chip. Hamlet had been inconsistent since promotion, occupying a safe place just below halfway at the higher level, but the muscle memory of those players who won a championship title a year ago kicked in as they once again began to play like champions. Two substitutes combined to put Hamlet ahead when Martha Goddard made a typically strong run down the right and pulled the ball back for Iesha Swaby, a mid-season signing from Billericay Town, who turned her marker and fired high into the net at the near post with 20 minutes remaining. Only five more minutes had elapsed before dead ball specialist Lily Price delivered a high corner kick beyond the far post and two of Hamlet's longest serving players combined to extend the lead. Rhea Gall leapt high to meet the cross with a powerful header that ricocheted down from the underside of the bar and Ceylon Hickman followed in to calmly nod the bouncing ball into the net from close range.
Hamlet had lost a couple of their best players to university scholarships in the US after promotion, as well as leading scorer Summer Roberts to a long term injury, reinforcing their squad with a handful of signings with prior experience at the new level. Bedford had gone large with the mass recruitment of 10 players from a Milton Keynes Dons side who had finished 6th in the National Premier South, securing the title a fortnight ago ahead of Norwich City, who are runners-up for the second year running. As for MK Dons, they now swap places with Bedford after a disastrous season yielded just a single point from 22 matches, with a goal difference of -114.

[Rhodes]

On 26/04/2025 at 22:42, Rhodes said:

What is there left to say this season, see the match programme:

https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/files.pitchero.com%2Fclubs%2F13461%2FjD44NCyPTyqqOuGYQz66_Match+Day+Programme+Real+Bedford.pdf

Respected groundhopper 'Fatbear's Sporting Diaries', from another Forum, was at Real Bedford's final Southern League Division One Central fixture at Thame United on Saturday (26 April). Also see, separately, a match report and some match photographs:

https://www.realbedford.com/news/real-bedford-end-season-with-comeback-victory-at-thame-united

https://www.thamefootball.co.uk/photos/thame-united-vs-real-bedford-26-april-1138448.html

Southern League Division One Central
Thame United 1-2 Real Bedford
Att 180 est, Entrance £10
Champions Real Bedford were given a guard of honour and warm applause from the Thame side when they entered the pitch, and they dominated the majority of this match. However, they fell behind in the 15th minute when Dan West was teed up to side foot home from 8 yards and the same play came close to adding a second on the half hour, but his header went narrowly wide.
The game increasingly became attack vs defence, with the occasional counter-attack from Thame, but Real had to wait until 12 minutes from time when top scorer Joey Evans headed home from close range. Real won the game with a penalty 4 minutes from time, Evans superbly putting his spot-kick into the top corner, giving the Thame keeper no chance.
Attached is the full report for anyone interested: https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2025/04/thame-united-1-2-real-bedford-att-180.html

Edited Tuesday at 06:25 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Bedford Town supremo Lee Bircham was interviewed on Ollie Bayliss's BBC Three Counties Radio Non League Show last night (Monday 28 April) following the Club's surprise promotion to Step Two and it's a very interesting listen to be fair where Lee mentions the 'aborted' merger with Real Bedford and the great man (Peter McCormack) in a positive light. Fast forward to an early four and a half minutes into the show:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002b5ct

[Rhodes]

How on earth does Mr McCormack manage to get these high profile and distinguished guests on his Podcast, this time it is, wait for it, Nick Timothy CBE, former Member of Parliament (MP) for West Suffolk and former Chief of Staff to Theresa May when Theresa was Prime Minister. Football isn't touched upon however Birmingham born and bred Mr Timothy is an avid Aston Villa supporter;

Nick Timothy is the Conservative Member of Parliament for West Suffolk, a political strategist, writer, and former chief adviser to Prime Minister Theresa May. With deep experience inside Westminster and a sharp critique of Britain’s political class, Nick has become one of the country’s most compelling voices for conservative reform. In this interview, Nick explains why Britain's political and economic systems are no longer fit for purpose—and why both Labour is failing the nation. We explore the root causes of Britain’s decline: broken economic thinking, a bloated and overreaching state, uncontrolled immigration, and the collapse of cultural confidence. Nick breaks down the dangers of Labour’s tax-and-spend agenda, the betrayal of conservative values, and the urgent need for radical change. He argues that only by restoring true conservative principles, economic resilience, and national self-belief can Britain avoid irreversible decline and rebuild a freer, stronger society. 00:00:00 – Introduction 00:01:10 – Britain’s Visible Decline 00:05:46 – Why Trump’s Trade Strategy Matters 00:08:59 – How to Rebalance Britain 00:10:26 – Fixing Trade, Energy, Taxes 00:14:13 – Broken Treasury Thinking 00:17:25 – Inheritance Tax Is Broken 00:19:03 – Wealth Taxes and Incentives 00:21:51 – Labour’s Spending Explosion 00:23:45 – Crowding Out the Private Sector 00:24:39 – Labour’s Economic Trap 00:26:26 – Conservative Party’s Responsibility 00:29:01 – Climate Policy Has Backfired 00:31:25 – The Need for Industrial Policy 00:35:02 – Three-Party Politics 00:36:48 – Reform Party’s Threat to Conservatives 00:39:41 – Conservatism vs Liberal Ideology 00:42:00 – Why Liberalism Fails Real People 00:46:00 – Universities and Ideological Capture 00:47:10 – Left-Wing Education Bias 00:50:44 – The Conservative Roadmap to Win 00:54:50 – We Need Radical Economic Reform 00:57:50 – AI Will Accelerate the Collapse 01:01:17 – The Broken Business Environment 01:03:00 – Voters Want Big, Brave Change 01:04:30 – Conservatives Must Fix the Country.

Edited Tuesday at 10:27 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

On 16/04/2025 at 16:59, Rhodes said:

As I recall was the case last season, the Club are once again releasing a celebratory and limited edition Champions Shirt for both the Men's and Ladies teams, only 100 of each are available at a 'giveaway' price of £85 so it's first come first served:

To celebrate Real Bedford Men's incredible third consecutive title and Real Bedford Women's dominant back-to-back championship wins, we're launching a limited edition shirt collection for both teams.

https://shop.realbedford.com/collections/23-24-replica-shirts/products/limited-edition-1-100-24-25-mens-gold-champions-shirt?mc_cid=79f1f9d02c&mc_eid=cfa9735dc6

https://shop.realbedford.com/collections/23-24-replica-shirts/products/limited-edition-1-100-24-25-womens-black-gold-champions-shirt?mc_cid=79f1f9d02c&mc_eid=cfa9735dc6

Bulletin and warning folks, there are just ten Men’s Champions Shirts remaining for purchase on a first come first served basis, do not miss out:

[Rhodes]

On 09/04/2025 at 13:31, Rhodes said:

I see that the proposed Bedfordshire Universal Theme Park has been approved, and nodded through, by Government today (9 April), I know one entrepreneurial individual who will be pricking up his ears with that great news. Coincidentally the park's opening is planned for 1931, the exact year when the man himself, Mr McCormack, has predicted the Club will reach the promised land of the Premier League for the 1931/32 campaign, you simply couldn't make it up or write it could you:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz95n2837vgo

https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/jobs-joy-and-jurassic-park-bedford-responds-to-universal-studios-announcement/

https://www.bedford.gov.uk/news/2025/bedford-borough-become-home-universal-uk

The first Universal theme park in Europe will be built in the UK, the Government has promised. The attraction is planned for the site of a former brick works near Bedford and could create an estimated 28,000 jobs before opening in 2031. Universal estimated the 476-acre complex could attract 8.5 million visitors in its first year. Sir Keir Starmer said the multi- billion-pound investment by the company would "see Bedford home to one of the biggest entertainment parks in Europe, firmly putting the County on the global stage".

You couldn't make it up or write it could you, Bedford Councillor Ben Foley has raised concerns about the pressures the Bedfordshire Universal Theme Park will put on local Bedfordshire Services, absolutely incredible and says it all about the state and mentality of Local Government:

A Bedford Borough Councillor has warned of the potential pressures Universal Studios could place on local services and the housing market. Cllr Ben Foley (Green, Greyfriars) raised several concerns about the broader implications of the project across Council service areas during the latest Executive meeting on Wednesday 23 April. The Councillor asked if Executive members were thinking about the implications of the Universal decision on their Service areas. “Similarly, there may be implications on children’s services because potential fosterers may have an alternative source of income from their spare rooms. For example, we know that there are going to be implications for the housing market of an increased number of Airbnbs", Cllr Foley said. "Similarly, there may be implications on children’s services because potential fosterers may have an alternative source of income from their spare rooms, there’ll be implications for transport networks and so on.”

https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/councillor-warns-of-potential-pressures-universal-could-place-on-local-services/

[Rhodes]

An interesting article on the BBC website yesterday describing Bedford Town as 'an Oliver Twist Club', whatever that means. As Club boss Lee Bircham said to Ollie Bayliss on his BBC Three Counties Radio Non League Show last night he strongly feels that the merger saga, between Bedford Town and Real Bedford, wasn't genuine on Mr McCormack's part and simply a Donald Trump style 'masterstroke' to keep everyone guessing and on tenterhooks, LondonEagle for example fell for it 'hook line and sinker' didn't he: 

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c75dyd4l99do

[Rhodes]

Did we actually see the incredible programme meticulously put together by Mr McCormack for the Cheatcode Conference on Friday 11 April at the Bedford Corn Exchange:

[Rhodes]

On 29/04/2025 at 15:33, Rhodes said:

You couldn't make it up or write it could you, Bedford Councillor Ben Foley has raised concerns about the pressures the Bedfordshire Universal Theme Park will put on local Bedfordshire Services, absolutely incredible and says it all about the state and mentality of Local Government:

A Bedford Borough Councillor has warned of the potential pressures Universal Studios could place on local services and the housing market. Cllr Ben Foley (Green, Greyfriars) raised several concerns about the broader implications of the project across Council service areas during the latest Executive meeting on Wednesday 23 April. The Councillor asked if Executive members were thinking about the implications of the Universal decision on their Service areas. “Similarly, there may be implications on children’s services because potential fosterers may have an alternative source of income from their spare rooms. For example, we know that there are going to be implications for the housing market of an increased number of Airbnbs", Cllr Foley said. "Similarly, there may be implications on children’s services because potential fosterers may have an alternative source of income from their spare rooms, there’ll be implications for transport networks and so on.”

https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/councillor-warns-of-potential-pressures-universal-could-place-on-local-services/

More on this from Bedford Councillor Ben Foley, I wonder what Mr McCormack thinks of his totally 'out of touch' comments:

Like virtually the whole of Bedford, I was pleased that Universal announced yesterday that their plans for a theme park in Bedford would go ahead. Greens take the view that fun is important, and it's better if people go to a theme park they can get to it without long-haul flights. It should be good for Bedford, bringing thousands of long-term jobs directly, and more indirectly. However, we're also aware of, and paying attention to possible downsides. It was good to get reassurance that Universal hadn't insisted on Luton Airport being expanded (so that was the Labour Government's own decision to trash the climate). We will, all the same, be wary of any tendency for the theme park to mean extra flights at Luton. At the meeting of the Universal senior staff with the leaders of the groups on Bedford Borough Council (and me as convenor of the Green group), I think there was consensus across parties to encourage the promotion of the use of Eurostar and the train up from St Pancras to get as many of the visitors from continental Europe to the site by that route as possible. Another possible downside we've also been paying attention to, is the possible impact on the local housing market of having a major tourist attraction. I've already emailed and spoken to the member of the Council Executive with responsibility, and asked for it to be on the agenda for Housing Committee meetings. It's something I want Bedford to be 'ahead of the game' on, so we protect local people who need homes. I've also raised the need to make sure that Disabled people stand a fair chance of being recruited to the thousands of jobs that there will be. Too often, employers, when faced with two candidates at final selection, one Disabled, one not Disabled, will go for the non-Disabled one. This is the biggest part of why Disabled people find it much harder to get jobs. I got some reassurance from the senior staff of Universal, but will want to follow up on the issue of franchisees, etc.
All told, we're pleased, but we want to make sure downsides are minimised and upsides maximised.

Edited 17 hours ago by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

I'm not sure whether Cruz or LondonEagle remember a player called Peter Burridge who Bedford Town Manager at the time Ron Heckman got from Charlton Athletic in 1967, he's in the front row of the photograph below, second from the left. Peter sadly died today aged 91 😪

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Burridge

https://sites.google.com/site/bedfordoldeagles/the-later-years-1967-82/later-history-1967-82/1967-8-to-1969-70-up-down-and-back-up-again

[Cruz]

I remember Peter Burridge very well ex Crystal Palace also played for Crystal Palace. As a youngster I recall Peter driving into the Old Eyrie for the first time and asking me where the changing rooms were, he became a favorite with the Eagles fans. Sad news.