Bedford FC

[Rhodes]

I came across this video and it's an interesting one, originated by young YouTuber who produces the 'Football Stadium Show'. He interviews Peter McCormack at McMullen Park: 

Today I visit Real Bedford FC, a football club owner by Bitcoin podcaster, Peter McCormack, and American billionaires, the Winklevoss twins. Along with speaking to Peter, I also watch a high-stake match, in which Real Bedford can win the League to make it back-to-back promotions!

[Rhodes]

The Football Association (FA) have today (Friday 17 May) released their Official allocations for the 2024/25 campaign that sees Real Bedford placed in the Southern League Division One Central:

National League System Step 1-6 allocations for 2024-25 season (thefa.com)

Constitutions 2024-2025 - Google Sheets

We can now confirm the National League System (NLS) club allocations for Steps 1-6. The allocations follow the completion of the recent league play-offs at Steps 1 to 6 of the NLS. These allocations are subject to appeals and any amendments to these will be confirmed in due course. We would like to thank everyone involved, from volunteers to Club's and League's across the National League System for their hard work during the 2023-24 season and wish everyone the best of luck for next season. The full list of club allocations for the 2024-25 season covering Steps 1-6 can be downloaded below.

	Southern League One Central
	1	AFC Dunstable	LU6 1BB	SLC
	2	Aylesbury United	HP5 1NE	SLC
	3	Barton Rovers	MK45 4LQ	SLC
	4	Beaconsfield Town	HP9 2SE	SPS
	5	Berkhamsted	HP4 2AL	SPC
	6	Biggleswade	MK44 3LW	SLC
	7	Enfield	SG13 8EZ	ILN
	8	Flackwell Heath	HP10 9EA	CCN
	9	Hadley	EN5 3LD	SLC
	10	Hertford Town	SG13 8EZ	SLC
	11	Hitchin Town	SG5 1NU	SPC
	12	Kidlington	OX5 1AT	SLC
	13	Kings Langley	WD4 8BS	SLC
	14	Leighton Town	LU7 1RX	SLC
	15	Leverstock Green	HP2 4NQ	SMP
	16	North Leigh	OX29 6SL	SLC
	17	Northwood	HA6 1HR	ILSC
	18	Real Bedford	MK44 3LW	SMP
	19	Stotfold	SG5 4HE	SLC
	20	Thame United	OX9 3RN	SLC
	21	Ware	SG12 0UQ	SLC
	22	Welwyn Garden City	AL7 1TA	SLC

Edited May 17 by Rhodes

[RallyInRaleigh]

Nothing left to do but to win this one too!

[Rhodes]

25 minutes ago, RallyInRaleigh said:

Nothing left to do but to win this one too!

RallyInRaleigh - Yes, indeed, it surely wouldn't have made any sense whatsoever for the Club to have been placed in the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands (see below) so common sense has fortunately prevailed for once which is a rarity from 'the blazers' at the Football Association. Imagine having to travel to somewhere like Boldmere St. Michaels for example or, likewise, Darlaston Town and Lye Town:

Northern Premier League One Midlands
1	AFC Rushden & Diamonds	NN10 0HX	NPM
2	Anstey Nomads	LE7 7BP	NPM
3	Bedworth United	CV12 8NN	NPM
4	Boldmere St. Michaels	B73 5RY	NPM
5	Coleshill Town	B46 3JJ	NPM
6	Corby Town	NN17 2FB	NPM
7	Coventry Sphinx	CV3 1WA	NPM
8	Darlaston Town	WS2 0EA	MLP
9	Grantham Town	NG31 7XQ	NPE
10	Hinckley LR	LE10 3DR	NPM
11	Long Eaton United	NG10 2EF	SPC
12	Loughborough Students	LE11 3QF	UCN
13	Lye Town	DY9 7DH	NPM
14	Quorn	LE12 8RB	NPM
15	Racing Club Warwick	CV34 6JP	UCS
16	Rugby Town	CV21 3SD	NPM
17	Shepshed Dynamo	LE12 9BN	NPM
18	Sporting Khalsa	WV13 3BB	NPM
19	Sutton Coldfield Town	B72 1NL	NPM
20	Walsall Wood	WS9 9NP	NPM
21	Wellingborough Town	NN8 2DP	UCS
22	Worcester City	WR3 7SS	HLP

[Rhodes]

A recent update on the Club from Peter McCormack, with Media and Communications Manager Will Roberts, following the shenanigans with Bedford Borough Council but prior to this afternoon's announcement that the Club have been placed in the Southern League Division One Central next season:

[Rhodes]

Again, let's get ready to rumble for Sunday afternoon at Newmarket Town FC and the Eastern Region Women's League Cup Final between Real Beadford Ladies and Wroxham FC Ladies:

[Rhodes]

A nice graphic of all the Club's competing in the Southern League Division One Central next season (2024/25), including of course Real Bedford:

[Rhodes]

On 17/05/2024 at 17:08, Rhodes said:

Again, let's get ready to rumble for Sunday afternoon at Newmarket Town FC and the Eastern Region Women's League Cup Final between Real Beadford Ladies and Wroxham FC Ladies

What can you say about Real Bedford Ladies, beating Wroxham FC Ladies 4-2 yesterday at Newmarket Town FC to lift the Eastern Region Women's League Cup with goals from Gemma Croucher from the penalty spot, a brace from, who else, Natasha Fensome (pictured in action) and an own goal, see a match report and local press coverage:

Real Bedford Ladies complete historic treble against Wroxham Women | Real Bedford FC | Running Bitcoin

Real Bedford hold on to beat Wroxham and win historic treble - Bedford Independent

Edited May 21 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

An interesting development at the Club today on the Ladies side, Charlie Bill has been appointed as Manager in succession to the excellent Georgia Clarke. Charlie has a CV as long as your arm and, up until recently, was Manager of Milton Keynes Dons Ladies, at tier three level in the Women's National League Southern Premier Division since the 2018/19 campaign, and where he had diligently and loyally worked for the last eight years:

Charlie Bill To Become RBFC Ladies Manager | Real Bedford FC | Running Bitcoin

Edited May 21 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

In addition to 'Captain Fantastic' Luke Knight, six other players have sadly been released by the Club, or, in Luke's case, left by mutual consent, James Ducket, Claston Gordon, Lewis Burgess, Kevin Owusu, Ben Walsh and Alfie Bozward (all pictured):

Pirates Confirm 6 Players To Depart This Summer | Real Bedford FC | Running Bitcoin

Edited May 22 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

On 14/01/2024 at 16:49, Rhodes said:

What a win this afternoon for Real Bedford Ladies against Haringey Borough Ladies having been 2-1 behind at the interval

https://www.realbedford.com/news/dramatic-late-winner-gives-the-pirates-all-three-points-at-haringey

A little after the Lord Mayor's Show now however over 480 photographs from Real Bedford Ladies visit to, then second in the table, Haringey Borough Ladies on Sunday 14 January and the last gasp 3-2 victory thanks to Sophie Billing goal:

[Rhodes]

On 13/05/2024 at 11:39, Rhodes said:

I note that Charlie Smith's late goal, at Biggleswade United in October, was unsurprisingly voted the Club's goal of the season, David who?, Wayne who? 😉:

Goal of the season award winner and 'the Magic Man' Charlie Smith has sadly decided to hang up his boots:

Charlie Smith Retires From Football | Real Bedford FC | Running Bitcoin

[Rhodes]

Here we go folks, the Club will be issuing their 'Strategic Roadmap' shortly and here are extracts of the Men's and Ladies team's progress and short term ambition, obviously the longer term ambition is the Premier League, ie for 2031/32, for the Men and Super League, ie 2027/28, for the Ladies:

[Rhodes]

What can you say about the Ladies team and what they have achieved this season, truly incredible and much, if not all, of the credit has to go to boss Georgia Clarke who took over the reins in November, as interim Manager, when Dean Perrett surprisingly left the Club:

[Rhodes]

It's never ending is it, here is Mr McCormack giving, sorry, handing, the Bedford Future Fund £51,000 from the proceeds of the CheatCode Conference in Bedford last month:

This week I am launching the Bedford Future Fund, a non-profit which will provide grants of up to £5,000 to talented young people in Bedford.

I have seeded it with £51,000 and made two grants already. Find out more here: https://www.bedfordfuturefund.com/

Edited May 28 by Rhodes

[LondonEagle]

On 18/05/2024 at 12:03, Rhodes said:

A nice graphic of all the Club's competing in the Southern League Division One Central next season (2024/25), including of course Real Bedford:

 

Hitchin Town have been reprieved from relegation from Southern Premier Central after Coalville Town's sad demise last week.

The knock-on effect is Division One Central will run with 1 club short next year ie no reprieve for Kempston.

So 2 fewer games for Real, biut one of the title favourites also removed from the equation.

 

[Rhodes]

More amazing, sorry, incredible, news, the Club have now dipped its toe into netball and excitingly joined forces with the potentially huge 'Team Beds Netball Club' who will become 'Real Bedford Netball' and wear the Club's now iconic colours participating in the East Senior Regional League Division Three. Coincidentally Netball is currently front page news with the very recent relaunch of the Netball Super League (NSL) with just eight Club's and with plans to go professional next year:

REAL BEDFORD PARTNERS WITH TEAM BEDS NETBALL | Real Bedford FC | Running Bitcoin

Real Bedford announce new Team Beds Netball partnership - Bedford Independent

Netball Super League: Team Bath not in relaunched league - BBC Sport

[Rhodes]

Sad news in that Real Bedford Ladies 'Captain Fantastic' Zara Carroll has decided to step away from playing next season however will fortunately remain at McMullen Park to work closely with new boss Charlie Bill and the Coaching staff as well as with the junior Ladies teams who are already starting to 'pull up trees' in their respective League's:

Zara Carroll to Step Down as First Team Captain | Real Bedford FC | Running Bitcoin

[Rhodes]

On 28/05/2024 at 18:07, LondonEagle said:

Hitchin Town have been reprieved from relegation from Southern Premier Central after Coalville Town's sad demise last week. The knock-on effect is Division One Central will run with 1 club short next year ie no reprieve for Kempston. So 2 fewer games for Real, biut one of the title favourites also removed from the equation

LondonEagle - Yes, Brett Donnelly got out of Wormwood Scrubs, sorry, Wakefield there didn't he, it seems totally unfair because Hitchin Town were legitimately, and fairly and squarely, relegated to Step 4. You say that one of the Southern League Division One Central title favourites are now 'removed from the equation' indicating or suggesting that it will make it far easier for Real Bedford however I beg to differ as I don't rate Brett that highly as a Manager and a trip to 'salubrious' Top Field would have been nice.

Edited May 31 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

What a 2023/24 trophy haul for Real Bedford Football Club, both the Men's and Women's team's and, in addition, some of the Junior Women's teams have also won silverware: