Bedford FC

[LondonEagle]

On 14/06/2024 at 11:48, Winslow Boy said:

The whole thing is bizarre. I have thoughts on it but I was wrong when I thought Hashtag would last five minutes so…

They have over £3m in Bitcoin 'in the bank.'

Bitcoin price is rising and they have nothing that they need to spend £3m on immediately.

So they are likely to be around for a good while yet. Bedford Town can generate significantly more revenue once they have a 3G pitch installed though, so their first 'obstacle' of overtaking Bedford Town in league position might take a little longer, Financially they are already the biggest club in Bedford. Indeed in Bedfordshire itself, only Luton Town have more financial assets currently I would guess.     

[Rhodes]

On 15/06/2024 at 13:07, Cruz said:

I remember Peter Morgan playing for Bedford Town at right back signing from QPR and departing for Dartford very sad new 

Cruz - It was an interesting period in the Club's history, were you at any of the Wycombe Wanderers FA Cup ties in 1966/67:

November 1966 - Wycombe v Bedford FA Cup epic - Wycombe Wanderers Magic Moment (chairboys.co.uk)

Edited June 22 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

24 minutes ago, LondonEagle said:

They have over £3m in Bitcoin 'in the bank.'

Bitcoin price is rising and they have nothing that they need to spend £3m on immediately.

So they are likely to be around for a good while yet. Bedford Town can generate significantly more revenue once they have a 3G pitch installed though, so their first 'obstacle' of overtaking Bedford Town in league position might take a little longer, Financially they are already the biggest club in Bedford. Indeed in Bedfordshire itself, only Luton Town have more financial assets currently I would guess.  

LondonEagle - You mean £3m 😉 or in day to day terms with, as you say, revenue that a 3g pitch brings in particularly with hiring it out and winter fixtures that would otherwise be lost. Did you manage to find out whether the Club gratefully accepted their neighbours generous offer of £10,000 towards the considerable outlay and did you get any Football Foundation funding out of interest. You have to admit that it could have so easily been you with a cool £3m in your back pocket had you not sent Mr McCormack packing with a flea in his ear when he came calling.

Edited June 17 by Rhodes

[LondonEagle]

8 minutes ago, Rhodes said:

LondonEagle - You mean £3m 😉 or in day to day terms with, as you say, revenue that a 3g pitch brings in particularly with hiring it out and winter fixtures that would otherwise be lost. Did you manage to find out whether the Club gratefully accepted their neighbours generous offer of £10,000 towards the considerable outlay and did you get any Football Foundation funding out of interest. You have to admit that it could have so easily been you with a cool £3m in your back pocket had you not sent Mr McCormack packing with a flea in his ear when he came calling.

Not sure whether it was accepted or about the FF funding.  I didn't send him packing personally!  Also, I would have been able to watch all the BTFC games midweek g that I can't get to, ref your last point.       

[Rhodes]

Another interesting signing for Real Bedford Ladies in Chiara Meola, new boss Charlie Bill's second 'acquisition' since recently arriving at McMullen Park from Milton Keynes Dons Ladies. Former Watford Ladies dynamic midfield player Chiara (pictured scoring at Vicarage Road), who turned 23 only yesterday (16 June), will be a great addition to the playing staff with, no doubt, other high profile signings still to come prior to the start of the eagerly awaited 2024/25 campaign:

Chiara Meola Joins Real Bedford Ladies | Real Bedford FC | Running Bitcoin

Meola: “It Means Everything To Us” - Watford FC

Edited June 17 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

I see that the Club's season tickets for 2024/25 are hot, sorry, boiling off the press, comprising of just a simple card which one will presumably just flash at the turnstile to gain entrance to McMullen Park. There are numerous deals to be had with the most appealing being a bargain basement £210 for all of the Men's and Ladies team's home League fixtures, Cup games are not included however no doubt there will be good concessions for season ticket holders:

Season Tickets | Real Bedford FC | Running Bitcoin

[Rhodes]

Two more high profile signings for the Real Bedford Ladies team (both pictured), firstly young midfielder Emily Wilson (right) and secondly experienced winger Tricia Gould (left), both from Manager Charlie Bill's former Club Milton Keynes Dons Ladies. Good luck to Emily and Tricia next season, not that they will need it:

Real Bedford Ladies Sign Emily Wilson | Real Bedford FC | Running Bitcoin

Tricia Gould Signs for The Pirates | Real Bedford FC | Running Bitcoin

Edited June 22 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Just to say that these are the circles Real Bedford Chairman Peter McCormack moves in, what Premier Division Club, or any Club in the World for that matter, can boast that:

[Rhodes]

Seven pre-season fixtures have been confirmed by the Club for the Ladies team during July and early August prior to the start of the new 2024/25 campaign including against, wait for it, Women's National League Southern Premier Division Watford Ladies and Women's National League Northern Premier Division West Bromwich Albion Ladies:

Real Bedford Ladies Confirm Pre-Season Schedule | Real Bedford FC | Running Bitcoin

Ladies Fixtures | Real Bedford FC | Running Bitcoin

Sunday 7 July v Maidenhead United, Away, (kick off 2.00pm)

Sunday 14 July v Dartford, Away, (kick off 3.00pm)

Sunday 21 July v Fulham, Home, (kick off 2.00pm)

Sunday 28 July v Hashtag United, Away, (kick off 2.00pm)

Wednesday 31 July v Watford, Away, (kick off 7.00pm)

Sunday 4 August v AFC Wimbledon, Home, (kick off 2.00pm)

Sunday 11 August v West Bromwich Albion, Away, (kick off 3.00pm)

[Rhodes]

I see that progress is being made on the pitch at neighbouring The Eyrie with installing the 3g surface ahead of the new 2024/25 campaign. Wait for it though, the Club are embarrassingly selling, sorry, flogging pieces of the hallowed Eyrie turf stating 'take your own bit of living history home':

All weather 3G pitch works commenced! (pitchero.com)

https://x.com/i/status/1803497611002802499

Edited June 24 by Rhodes

[LondonEagle]

19 hours ago, Rhodes said:

I see that progress is being made on the pitch at neighbouring The Eyrie with installing the 3g surface ahead of the new 2024/25 campaign. Wait for it though, the Club are embarrassingly selling, sorry, flogging pieces of the hallowed Eyrie turf stating 'take your own bit of living history home':

All weather 3G pitch works commenced! (pitchero.com)

https://x.com/i/status/1803497611002802499

How is that embarrassing? Nobody is being forced to buy a piece.  A £1m investment in  community football in Bedford. If that had been PM you would be praising how brilliant the project is for the community.      

[Rhodes]

Former Potton United, East Thurrock, Codicote, Hitchin Town, Bishop’s Stortford, Baldock Town and Biggleswade Town defender Jack Morrell has signed for Real Bedford and will be an excellent acquisition for the 2024/25 campaign in the Southern League Division One Central. Still only 23, Jack began his flourishing career with Stevenage FC at the tender age of 17 before moving to Gillingham where he was instrumental in their high quality Under 18's side reaching the prestigious Football League Youth Alliance Cup Final in 2021 and experiencing from brief loan spells at nearby Isthmian League Club's Sittingbourne FC and Ramsgate. Jack also won the player's player of the season award at Biggleswade Town last season following their Southern League Division One Central Championship campaign which pretty much says it all:

Jack Morrell Signs for Real Bedford | Real Bedford FC | Running Bitcoin

[Rhodes]

Confirmation that Real Bedford have been cordially invited to take part in the FA Cup and FA Trophy for the 2024/25 campaign, the draws for both competitions will be published next Friday (5 July):

Clubs accepted, round exemptions and prize funds for four 2024-25 FA Competitions are released (thefa.com)

[LondonEagle]

5 hours ago, Rhodes said:

Confirmation that Real Bedford have been cordially invited to take part in the FA Cup and FA Trophy for the 2024/25 campaign, the draws for both competitions will be published next Friday (5 July):

Clubs accepted, round exemptions and prize funds for four 2024-25 FA Competitions are released (thefa.com)

 

Hopefully if Real win their first 2 FA Cup ties, they will set up a 1st Round Qualifying tie with Bedford Town.          

[Rhodes]

LondonEagle - Yes, indeed, or even the Second Qualifying Round if Bedford Town are able to negotiate their First Qualifying Round tie, you must be disappointed that the Club haven't been beyond the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup since 2009/10 taking into account your track record in the competition back in the day. How about the FA Trophy (see below), will you enter at the Third Qualifying Round stage on Saturday 5 October, as was the case in 2022/23, whereas Real Bedford will enter at the Preliminary Round on Saturday 24 August: 

The Isuzu FA Trophy Season 2024-25 - Round Dates
Preliminary Round - Saturday 24 August 2024
First Round Qualifying - Saturday 7 September 2024
Second Round Qualifying - Saturday 21 September 2024
Third Round Qualifying - Saturday 5 October 2024
First Round Proper - Saturday 26 October 2024
Second Round Proper - Saturday 16 November 2024
Third Round Proper - Saturday 7 December 2024
Fourth Round Proper - Saturday 4 January 2025
Fifth Round Proper - Saturday 1 February 2025
Sixth Round Proper - Saturday 1 March 2025
Semi Final - Saturday 5 April 2025
Final - Saturday 10 or Sunday 11 May 2025

[LondonEagle]

3 hours ago, Rhodes said:

LondonEagle - Yes, indeed, or even the Second Qualifying Round if Bedford Town are able to negotiate their First Qualifying Round tie, you must be disappointed that the Club haven't been beyond the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup since 2009/10 taking into account your track record in the competition back in the day. How about the FA Trophy (see below), will you enter at the Third Qualifying Round stage on Saturday 5 October, as was the case in 2022/23, whereas Real Bedford will enter at the Preliminary Round on Saturday 24 August: 

The Isuzu FA Trophy Season 2024-25 - Round Dates
Preliminary Round - Saturday 24 August 2024
First Round Qualifying - Saturday 7 September 2024
Second Round Qualifying - Saturday 21 September 2024
Third Round Qualifying - Saturday 5 October 2024
First Round Proper - Saturday 26 October 2024
Second Round Proper - Saturday 16 November 2024
Third Round Proper - Saturday 7 December 2024
Fourth Round Proper - Saturday 4 January 2025
Fifth Round Proper - Saturday 1 February 2025
Sixth Round Proper - Saturday 1 March 2025
Semi Final - Saturday 5 April 2025
Final - Saturday 10 or Sunday 11 May 2025

 

Yes, BTFC will enter at Third Qualifying Round stage of the Trophy on Saturday 5 October.     

[Rhodes]

17 minutes ago, LondonEagle said:

Yes, BTFC will enter at Third Qualifying Round stage of the Trophy on Saturday 5 October.     

LondonEagle - Thanks for clarifying that, hopefully they will do better than tamely exiting at the Third Qualifying Round stage last season to Matlock Town and also to lowly Isthmian League North Division Gorleston, at The Eyrie, in the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup.

[Rhodes]

More good news for Real Bedford who have announced a new £500,000 five-year sponsorship agreement with Gemini which is separate to their recent $4.5 million investment in the Club. Sorry for all the links however it just illustrates what might have been for Bedford Town doesn't it, they must be kicking themselves:

GEMINI SIGN £500,000 SPONSORSHIP DEAL WITH REAL BEDFORD | Real Bedford FC | Running Bitcoin

Cryptocurrency platform Gemini renew sponsorship of Real Bedford with five-year deal - Bedford Independent

Gemini Inks Multiyear Bitcoin Deal with Real Bedford FC - DailyCoin

Gemini Strikes 5-Year Sponsorship Deal with Real Bedford FC | Coinspeaker

Gemini signs 5-year bitcoin sponsorship deal with Peter McCormack's football club | The Block

Gemini Signs Five-Year Sponsorship Deal with Real Bedford (ffnews.com)

Gemini inks exclusive deal with Real Bedford FC  (crypto.news)

Edited July 1 by Rhodes

[Winslow Boy]

Would explain why they are able to offer £175 a week for a keeper to sit on the bench. 

[Rhodes]

Another great signing for Real Bedford this week and by the seemingly 'telepathic' Rob Sinclair who always appears to know exactly which players will be 'heaven made' for McMullen Park and who will hit the ground sprinting. Callum Nicolson cut his teeth at Luton Town from a young age and, other than a brief loan spell with Welwyn Garden City during the 2022/23 campaign, remained at Kenilworth Road for some six seasons before moving to AFC Dunstable at the beginning of last season where he duly lifted the Creasey Park Club's Committee's Player of the 2023/24 Season award:

Callum Nicolson Joins The Pirates | Real Bedford FC | Running Bitcoin

Ex-Hatter thanks Town for a journey he will 'never forget' after being released by Luton (lutontoday.co.uk)

Edited July 4 by Rhodes