Bedford FC

[LondonEagle]

29 minutes ago, Winslow Boy said:

Not so devastating to bitcoin fans who really couldn’t give a toss and will just yeeha anything they are fed. 

Any chance of a Bedford Town Phoenix club?

A Telford fan is claiming the merger won't happen in time for next season. Who know what is happening. It's unlikely, but not mathematically impossible, for The Eagles to win the title at Hitchin a week today, but unless there is an update in the meantime, nobody knows whether the title will mean promotion or not. 

[Rhodes]

Incredible, that's the only word that immediately springs to mind and what an un-precidented weekend including the CheatCode Conference and Cameron and Tyler Winkelvoss's first ever visit to Bedford. BBC news have picked up on the story, that says it all doesn't it:

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c0qnl02pv42o

Edited Tuesday at 17:48 by Rhodes

[LondonEagle]

If BTFC also get promoted, Rob Sinclair and Lee Bircham will have won an incredible 6 promotions between them in the past 3 seasons (Bircham one at Leighton Town.)

 

 

 

 

[Winslow Boy]

17 hours ago, LondonEagle said:

A Telford fan is claiming the merger won't happen in time for next season. Who know what is happening. It's unlikely, but not mathematically impossible, for The Eagles to win the title at Hitchin a week today, but unless there is an update in the meantime, nobody knows whether the title will mean promotion or not. 

What a mess. 

[Rhodes]

On 02/04/2025 at 17:27, Rhodes said:

The press articles keep coming, this time Mr McCormack has written an open, and scathing, letter to Bedfordshire Police stating that the situation in Bedford town centre is unacceptable and being allowed to rot, issues with crime and drugs are threatening the economic viability of businesses and the safety of residents.

https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/bedford-business-owner-tells-bedfordshire-police-tackle-crime-or-well-do-it-ourselves/

I see that Bedfordshire Police have responded to Mr McCormack's scathing letter, unsurprisingly it's an absolutely laughable response to put it mildly and says it all, not only in Bedford but sadly all over 'broken Britain' at present:

https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/senior-bedfordshire-police-officer-responds-to-letter-calling-on-force-to-tackle-crime-in-bedford/

'We are aware of the Community concerns regarding around crime in Bedford town centre and have this week met a range of business owners and Bedford Borough Council where we agreed some positive steps forward,' added CS Whittred.

On their website, a statement from Bedfordshire Police says, ‘Project Servator’s patrols are highly visible, but if you see our officers in your area, there’s nothing to be concerned about'.

Today, in the Harpur Centre, around 15 Police officers wearing body cameras were seen taking part in 'Project Servator', an operation that involves police carrying out highly visible and unpredictable deployments to distrupt criminal activity. When approched and asked why there was such a large Police presence in the centre, an officer handed over a leaflet that explained they were there in an operation designed to ‘help identify criminals’.

Edited Tuesday at 18:04 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Real Bedford were featured on Ollie Bayliss's BBC Three Counties Radio Non League Show on Monday evening (14 April) with an interesting interview with boss Rob Sinclair, fast forward to just four minutes into the show, obviously host Ollie couldn't wait to roll up his sleeves and speak to Rob about the Club's incredible acheivement following the three promotions in three season's:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0029xtq

Edited Wednesday at 07:06 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

On 12/04/2025 at 19:05, Rhodes said:

Following the 1-0 victory this afternoon (Saturday 12 April) over Kings Langley, Real Bedford are Southern League Division One Central Champions, the Club's third successive promotion, from Step Six to Step Three level, quite incredible

A match report, local press coverage, the match programme and highlights of the livestream from last Saturday's 'party', for want of a better word, at the Ledger Stadium against Kings Langley in front of an extraordinary attendance of 1,426 including Club co-owner billionaires Cameron and Tyler Winkelvoss who flew in for the weekend's 'festivities', again for want of a better word, from the United States:

https://www.realbedford.com/news/the-pirates-win-third-consecutive-league-title-in-front-of-winklevoss-twins

https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/evans-penalty-seals-real-bedfords-third-straight-league-title/

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/619758344d16e93725c39d0a/t/67fcf77da0a9500d0601916d/1744631680244/%2370+v+Kings+Langley+++-compressed.pdf

Edited Wednesday at 13:52 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

On 13/04/2025 at 17:02, Rhodes said:

Well what can you say, Real Bedford Ladies win 11-1 this afternoon against beleaguered London Seaward Ladies and lift the Women's FA National League Division One South East Championship going through the entire League season unbeaten, truly incredible

A match report, local press coverage and the match programme from last Sunday afternoon's 'party', for want of a better word, at the Ledger Stadium against London Seaward Ladies in front of an extraordinary attendance of 442. Also see an interesting video produced by groundhopper and Vlogger Will Laborne who was in attendance:

https://www.realbedford.com/news/the-pirates-win-back-to-back-league-titles-with-dominant-11-1-home-win

https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/real-bedford-women-dismantle-london-seaward-to-win-womens-national-league-title/

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/619758344d16e93725c39d0a/t/67fcfa86c87e677e91c1cbe2/1744632457857/%2314+v+London+Seaward-compressed.pdf

Edited Wednesday at 08:43 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

On 14/02/2025 at 13:50, Rhodes said:

What a win for Real Bedford Ladies last night breaking the Cambridge United hoodoo just when it mattered with Norwich City Ladies and Chatham Town Ladies on their knees at home all evening praying for a home victory. In an eventful FA Women's National League Division One South East clash, Real Bedford Ladies led 2-0 at the interval through a clinical Layla O'Brien brace however it was a nervy last twenty minutes after the hosts pulled a goal back (see link below) and all credit to a well marshalled defence, led by Captain fantastic Gemma Biggadike, who stood firm, also see a match report:  

https://www.realbedford.com/news/obrien-brace-clinches-hard-fought-away-victoryover-cambridge-united

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga3r4zYIAzo

A little after the Lord Mayor's Show but groundhopper and Vlogger Will Laborne who was in attendance at the Cambridge United Ladies v Real Bedford Ladies FA Women's National League Division One South East fixture on Thursday 13 February, played at St Neots Town FC:

Edited Wednesday at 12:26 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

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

Edited Wednesday at 15:21 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

On 06/03/2025 at 17:56, Rhodes said:

It's incredible isn't it, just take a look at the high profile speakers secured thus far for the Cheatcode Conference in Bedford in April. It's a 'who's who' and Winston Marshall for example is the former lead guitarist with the folk rock band Mumford and Sons who have won multiple awards including two Grammy and two Brit Awards, whilst at the Grammy Awards event in Los Angeles in 2012 Marshall performed on stage with, wait for it, Bob Dylan. Additionally Steve Baker is a former Cabinet Minister who served as Minister of State for Northern Ireland and Minister of State for the Cabinet Office, he considered running for the Conservative Party leadership following Boris Johnson's resignation:

Announcing our first batch of speakers for CheatCode, Bedford '25. Three days of Bitcoin, tech, counter-culture ideas, and football with @realbedford. April 11-13.

Did we know that, incredibly, Mr McCormack interviewed Winston Marshall some six months ago as part of his Podcast, no mention of football and a shorter than normal Podcast but strap yourself in:

Winston Marshall is a musician, cultural commentator and former member of the band Mumford & Sons. In this episode, we discuss his journey from rock star to cultural commentator, the challenges of holding conservative opinions in the entertainment industry and his exit from Mumford & Sons. We also get into the failures of corporate media, the rise of alternative media through podcasts and the impact of political realignment in the U.S. and the UK. We also cover the ongoing struggle for free speech, the role of populism, and the future of liberty in a World increasingly dominated by censorship and ideological conformity. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:07:03 - Conservatism in the Arts 00:13:29 - Departing Mumford & Sons 00:21:38 - Failure of Corporate Media 00:25:48 - Culture of Liberty 00:29:51 - Nigel Farage 00:31:15 - El Salvador and Argentina 00:39:30 - Free Speech in the UK 00:45:58 - Political Realignment in America 00:50:06 - Socialism vs Poverty 00:52:13 - The Politician Problem.

[RallyInRaleigh]

A remarkable club and season. Can't wait to make it four straight promotions and three for the women next season. Is it preseason friendly time?!

[LondonEagle]

Merger NOT happening for start of next season. Couldn't agree everything in time.

 

 

 

[Cruz]

1 hour ago, LondonEagle said:

Merger NOT happening for start of next season. Couldn't agree everything in time.

 

 

 

Very Happy

[LondonEagle]

11 minutes ago, Cruz said:

Very Happy

Plus one!! 

Sources close to the Bedford Independent have said that the merger is now “dead” with “next to no chance” of it going ahead in the future, although official confirmation has yet to be made.

 

 

Edited Thursday at 11:31 by LondonEagle

[Rhodes]

5 hours ago, LondonEagle said:

Plus one!! 

Sources close to the Bedford Independent have said that the merger is now “dead” with “next to no chance” of it going ahead in the future, although official confirmation has yet to be made.

LondonEagle - Yes, 'dead in the water' as you say, I did tell you sometime ago if you recall to 'calm down dear' as this was more than likely to happen in the end, I compared it to 'Thames Valley Royals' under Robert Maxwell back in the day:

https://www.realbedford.com/news/real-bedford-fc-bedford-town-merger-update

https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/breaking-bedford-town-fc-and-real-bedford-fc-merger-is-called-off/

Edited Thursday at 16:37 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

A lot of comments today over on another Forum:

I don't know whether there is any significance to this, but all of Real Bedford's tweets since last weekend have been about being "league champions" and winning their third successive league title. Not once has the word "promotion" been mentioned. I know it comes with the territory, but given that they are playing to a world audience, you might think that they would want to also point out that they are one step closer to their Premier League ambitions.

Rumour that the merged Club would have been placed at Step 4 - possible the merger has only just fallen through in which case they were probably very careful about not tweeting about promotion. Now they will get promoted, just with one of the worst grounds in Step 3.

Isn't the irony that putting down a 3G pitch (seen as the key by many Club's to financial growth) put them in this mess?

Why would a merged Club be place a step below the lower ranked of the 2 Club's merging?

Surely according to the FA guidelines, the merged Club would either be at the level of the lower ranked club (Step 3) or the position of the higher ranked club ( step 2/3 depending if Town are promoted)

If you read the rule in full rather than just selected guidance you’ll see placement of the merged Club is ultimately at the FA’s absolute discretion.

I know so they have discretion to place them at Step 4 if they want - RB only have a Step 4 ground grading and the whole thing was an attempted land grab to get a ground which has a Step 3 grading and not far off Step 2.

[Rhodes]

On 13/04/2025 at 17:02, Rhodes said:

Well what can you say, Real Bedford Ladies win 11-1 this afternoon against beleaguered London Seaward Ladies and lift the Women's FA National League Division One South East Championship going through the entire League season unbeaten, truly incredible.

Highlights from the livestream of Real Bedford Ladies 11-1 Women's FA National League Division One South East romp against London Seaward Ladies last Sunday and the Championship winning celebrations:

Edited Thursday at 17:39 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Let's get ready to rumble for tomorrow's (Saturday 19 April) Southern League Division One Central fixture at Leighton Town with the Championship already won, sorry, in the bag:

[Winslow Boy]

Merger off then. What a $hit show.