Bedford FC

[Rhodes]

An opportunity to start a thread on Bedford with these photographs from a 2013/14 SSML Division One fixture with Langford, at McMullen Park on Saturday 19 April 2014. Despite only leading 1-0 at the interval, thanks to Langford keeper Adam Harpur's heroics, Bedford won 6-0 against their beleaguered visitors who were reprieved from relegation after finishing the campaign in the bottom two, Bedford were third to Kings Langley and Champions Sun Postal Sports who were both promoted to the Premier Division however Bedford were promoted the following 2014/15 season only to come straight back down to Division One again:

 

[Rhodes]

Photographs from Bedford's 2013/14 SSML Division One visit to Risborough Rangers Horsenden Lane, on Saturday 5 April 2014, where they came away with a hard fought 1-0 victory:

Edited July 10, 2020 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Some photographs of McMullen Park:

 

[Rhodes]

Photographs from a 2015/16 SSML Premier Division fixture with London Colney, at McMullen Park on Saturday 2 January 2016, which, despite finishing bottom of the table and London Colney runners up to AFC Dunstable, Bedford won 2-1 on an afternoon when very few matches were played due to torrential rain:

 

[Rhodes]

Nice photographs from Bedford's 2015/16 SSML Premier Division campaign and a fixture with Hadley at McMullen Park on Saturday 2 April 2016, Hadley won 1-0 to hammer another nail into Bedford's coffin and send them back to Division One after just one season. Also a nice aerial view photograph of the adjoining Eyrie and McMullen Park, a groundhoppers paradise and heaven:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/131878596@N04/sets/72157673940997305

https://www.flickr.com/photos/john_fielding/49755666673/in/photostream/

Edited July 14, 2020 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

7 hours ago, Rhodes said:

Nice photographs from Bedford's 2015/16 SSML Premier Division campaign and a fixture with Hadley at McMullen Park on Saturday 2 April 2016, Hadley won 1-0 to hammer another nail into Bedford's coffin and send them back to Division One after just one season

Just posting the album as it's a great cover photograph of McMullen Park in all it's glory, heaven on earth and everyone's second favourite SSML ground behind their own Club:

Edited July 14, 2020 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

YouTube highlights from Bedford v Sun Sports in a 2015/16 SSML Premier Division fixture at McMullen Park on Saturday 3 October 2015 which Sun Sports won 2-1:

 

[Rhodes]

On 14/07/2020 at 11:10, Rhodes said:

Also a nice aerial view photograph of the adjoining Eyrie and McMullen Park, a groundhoppers paradise and heaven:

Like I said this must be absolute heaven on earth to anoraks mustn't it:

 

[Rhodes]

Who, in a million years, would have ever imagined Bedford sitting proudly at the summit of the SSML Division One table with maximum points after four matches, albeit jointly with St Panteleimon who have played a game more, and with New Salamis nowhere to be seen. Home wins over Park View (3-2) and Stotfold (2-0) and away wins at Enfield Borough (5-2) and London Tigers (2-1) have really raised eyebrows and tomorrow afternoon's fixture at McMullen Park is the most intriguing of the campaign so far with Buckingham Athletic starting to fire under Scott Reynolds after a slow start however home advantage for Bedford could just be the difference, there will hopefully be a decent attendance although Bedford Town are unfortunately at home. It is a breath of fresh air to see Bedford in the postion they are particularly out doing the two big guns who have both imperiously ruled the Division One roost ever since joining the SSML and would both be Premier Division Club's now if it wasn't for the Covid-19 outbreak, the visit of New Salamis to McMullen Park on 24 October will be a good yard stick as to how good Gavin Hoyte and Ollie Thorne's men really are following their trip to Rayners Lane next week (17 October).

[Rhodes]

Bedford United were established in 1957, originally as a works team, they became Bedford United & Valerio in 2002 and were briefly renamed again as Bedford Valerio United in 2006 before becoming just Beford in 2007. The Club, under its different guises, haven't always participated in the FA Cup but I believe this is their full record in the competition which isn't very impressive, never progressing beyond the First Qualifying Round:

F.A. CUP - Bedford United
1997-98   1Q    KINGSTONIAN                         H    0-5
1998-99   1Q    ROYSTON TOWN                        H    0-3
2000-01   PRE   BOWERS UNITED                       A    1-1
          PREr  BOWERS UNITED                       H    3-1
          1Q    IPSWICH WANDERERS                   A    0-1
2001-02   PRE   NEWMARKET TOWN                      H    0-1

F.A. CUP - Bedford United & Valerio

2002-03   EP    BROOK HOUSE                         H    0-1
2003-04   EP    HAREFIELD UNITED                    H    1-0
          PRE   ST NEOTS TOWN                       H    0-2
2004-05   PRE   POTTON UNITED                       H    0-3

F.A. CUP - Bedford

2007-08   PRE   BROXBOURNE BOROUGH V & E            H    0-3
2009-10   EP    THAME UNITED                        A    0-1
2010-11   EP    ETON MANOR                          A    0-3
2011-12   EP    WITHAM TOWN                         A    1-4
2014-15   EP    KINGS LANGLEY                       H    2-3
2015-16   EP    COGENHOE UNITED                     H    0-6
2016-17   EP    WELWYN GARDEN CITY                  H    1-2

Edited December 2, 2020 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

2 minutes ago, Rhodes said:

F.A. CUP - Bedford United
1997-98   1Q    KINGSTONIAN                         H    0-5

The programme cover:

[Rhodes]

Some groundhoppers visits to McMullen Park over the years: 

The Wycombe Wanderer: Bedford - McMullen Park (footygrounds.blogspot.com)

Pie and Mushy Peas: Bedford FC

Modus Hopper Random: Capon the Super Hero as Only One Bed Has a Clean Sheet

The Cold End: THE LUCKS JUST NOT IN FOR BEDFORD AS WODSON PARK COLLECT ALL THREE POINTS

Hodd Hold Out - Base of the Pyramid (botp.co.uk)

Hopping all over the World: Bedford (worldgroundhop.blogspot.com)

Bedford: McMullen Park (bedford-fc.blogspot.com)

Bedford United & Valerio (pyramidpassion.co.uk)

[Rhodes]

Photographs, courtesy of Sports Shots, from Buckingham Athletic v Bedford in a 2017/18 FA Vase First Qualifying Round tie, at Stratford Fields on Saturday 9 September 2017, resulting in a 1-1 stalemate after extra time, disappointingly for Bedford Buckingham Athletic won the replay at McMullen Park the following Tuesday 6-1:

Edited January 9, 2021 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Photographs, and match programme, from Baldock Town v Bedford in a 2016/17 SSML Division One fixture, played at Roker Park on Tuesday 9 August 2016, Baldock Town won 2-0 with Bedford embarking on a very disappointing campaign that was to see them finish third from bottom in Division One, their lowest finish since becoming founder members of the SSML in 1997/98:

Match Programme: Baldock Town v Bedford - 9/8/16 by Baldock Town FC - issuu

Edited January 11, 2021 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Photographs and match report from Baldock Town v Bedford in a 2017/18 SSML Division One fixture, at Hitchin Road on Saturday 3 February 2018, a ruthless Baldock Town won 7-0 :

Baldock Town 7-0 Bedford (baldocktownfc.com)

Edited January 14, 2021 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Photographs of rural Bedford, there's far more to the place than meets the eye when you just go there for a game at McMullen Park, or The Eyrie for that matter:

Edited February 21, 2021 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Bedford have had more name changes than Baldock Town, if that's possible, since their formation in 1957 as Bedford United, a name they kept until the end of the 2001/02 campaign when becoming Bedford United & Valerio due to a merger with Sunday League Club Unione Sportiva Valerio. That name only lasted for four seasons when they changed again to Bedford Valerio United for the 2006/07 campaign and finally to just Bedford only one season later, it did get a bit ridiculous. Anyway the Club were founder members of the SSML in 1997/98 when joining the SSML Premier Division North from the South Midlands League Premier Division however had three points deducted that first season and finished second from bottom, the following 1998/99 campaign the Club were placed in the Senior Division when finishing a respectable sixth. Here is a match programme from their first season in the SSML against runners up, and the very last South Midlands League Premier Division Champions from the previous season, Potters Bar Town on Wednesday 22 April 1998:

Edited February 21, 2021 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

A Biggleswade Town v Bedford United & Valerio programme from the 2003/04 SSML Premier Division campaign, at Fairfield on Tuesday 18 November 2003, the home side won 2-1. Biggleswade Town groundshared at McMullen Park for two seasons, 2006/07 and 2007/08, whilst their plush new Carlsberg Stadium was being built as they were forced to leave Fairfield at the end of the 2005/06 campaign which had been their home for over a hundred years: 

[Rhodes]

A Toddington Rovers v Bedford United team sheet from a 1993/94 South Midlands League Senior Division fixture on Saturday 11 September 1993, both Club's were founder members of the SSML four seasons later in 1997/98:

[Rhodes]

I see there has recently been a change in the set up at McMullen Park, do we know why Ollie Thorne left the Club:

https://www.bedfordfc.co.uk/news/jason-goldman-appointed-joint-manager-at-bedford-f-2615875.html

New Joint Manager

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Bedford FC are pleased to announce that Jason Goldman will be joining the club as Joint Manager. He will replace Ollie Thorne to work alongside Gavin Hoyte. The club would like to thank Ollie for all his efforts last season.
Jason played locally for Cranfield United, AFC Oakley and Olney Town, and he has managed AFC Oakley, Bedfordshire Schools FA, and is the Director of Football at Samuel Whitbread Academy.
A club spokesman said, “We are very pleased that Jason has joined the management team at Bedford FC. His experience in both playing with and coaching/developing, young and mature players will be invaluable to taking the club forwards and we are excited at what the future holds with Gavin and Jason at the helm”.