Bedford FC

[Rhodes]

The opening day FA Women's National League Division One South East fixtures on Sunday 18 August:

[Rhodes]

Two weekend defeats for Real Bedford Men and Real Bedford Ladies in their respective pre-season friendly fixtures on Saturday and Sunday, the Men 3-2 at home to Southern League Premier Division Central Royston Town and the Ladies going down 2-0 at FA Women's National League Southern Premier Division Hashtag United Ladies. There was clearly method in boss's Rob Sinclair and Charlie Bill's madness in pitting their new look sides wits against far higher opposition and it will pay huge dividends in the weeks and months to come rather than had they taken the 'easy option' and simply arranged friendlies with lower, and inferior, opposition as has been the case with Bedford Town for example who have played the likes of Thame United, Harpenden Town, Beaconsfield Town and Newport Pagnell Town and just, pointlessly, knocked in goals for fun without being tested. Real Bedford Men led 2-0 at the interval against Royston Town at McMullen Park and all credit to the Garden Walk Club for coming back strongly in the second period with three goals albeit two resulting from free kicks which Rob Sinclair will no doubt be scrutinising in training this week prior to next Saturday's tricky FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round tie with United Counties League Premier Division South St Neots Town.

Edited July 29 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

On 25/07/2024 at 14:29, Rhodes said:

Anyway watch this space for details on last night's comprehensive and workmanlike 6-0 win at Willen Road

Over 65 photographs, courtesy of photographer Michael Holliman, from the Newport Pagnell Town v Real Bedford pre-season friendly fixture at Willen Road on Tuesday 23 July:

[RallyInRaleigh]

It's cup week! Can't wait to see the teams get after it!

[Rhodes]

2 hours ago, RallyInRaleigh said:

It's cup week! Can't wait to see the teams get after it!

Hi RallyInRaleigh - I hope you and the family are well, I see they almost got him didn't they (Trump) 😉. Yes, the draw could have been a lot worse and it is at home but it won't be a cake walk as St Neots Town won't just tamely roll over, imagine the publicity if the Club can get as far as the First or Second Round proper of the FA Cup, if not further, not to mention the lucrative television money.

[Rhodes]

You couldn't make it up could you, Real Bedford Ladies have been drawn at home to Milton Keynes Dons Ladies, boss Charlie Bill's former Club, in the FA Women's National League Cup Preliminary Round, the tie is due to be played at McMullen Park on Wednesday 28 August.

FA Women's National League: FA WNL introduces prize money for cup competitions (thefa.com)

[Rhodes]

Here's an interesting one folks, Birmingham City made a request to the English Football League (EFL) to play their scheduled home League One fixture with Wrexham in the United States this coming season however it was refused and 'laughed out of Court' by the EFL 'blazers'.  What is wrong however with Peter McCormack taking one of Real Bedford's Southern League Division One Central fixtures to the United States this season, or, otherwise next season in the Southern League Premier Division Central, surely the Southern League would have no objection, why would they:

US-owned Birmingham City ask for their match against Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham to be moved to AMERICA | Daily Mail Online

Wrexham owner Ryan Reynolds responds to Birmingham City ‘request’ for USA fixture - Birmingham Live (birminghammail.co.uk)

[Rhodes]

Some recent, and complimentary, 'Stateside' articles on the Club:

Winklevoss-Backed Real Bedford Soccer Club Embraces Michael Saylor Bitcoin Philosophy, Accumulates 82.7 BTC - Benzinga

English Football Club, Real Bedford FC, Acquires $4.5 Million in Bitcoin (BTC) - BitcoinWorld

UK Amateur Football Club Real Bedford Acquires $4.5 Million Worth of Bitcoin (BTC) | COINOTAG NEWS

Real Bedford Football Club Boosts Bitcoin Holdings with $4.5M BTC Purchase (cryptonewsland.com)

Real Bedford FC is paving the way for broader adoption and innovative financial management in sports.

Other sports entities and businesses might consider similar strategies to diversify their assets and explore innovative financial opportunities.

Real Bedford FC, a non-league football (soccer) club in the UK, has caught everyone’s attention.

[Rhodes]

A little early but lets get ready to rumble, McMullen Park is now known as the Ledger Stadium due to sponsorship:

[Rhodes]

On 12/07/2024 at 10:16, Rhodes said:

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

Real Bedford Ladies travel to FA Women's National League Southern Premier Division Watford Ladies this evening (Wednesday 31 July), and the salubrious surroundings of Vicarage Road, for their latest 'loosener' ahead of the forthcoming, and eagerly awaited, 2024/25 FA Women's National League Division One South East campaign, kick off 7.00pm.

[Rhodes]

On 08/07/2024 at 17:25, Rhodes said:

Another signing for Real Bedford in Shaheim Ward (pictured) from Milton Keynes Irish, Shaheim has also plied his trade at Kempston Rovers, Potton United and Milton Keynes College Football Academy as well as with Bedford FC under their previous 'guise' prior to Peter McCormack taking over the reins at McMullen Park and transforming the ailing Club, lock stock and barrel. Shaheim has a brother Ty who is equally a gifted player and who I gather has also departed Manor Fields recently, where he was Club Captain, for pastures new

Well here's a turn up for the books folks, Real Bedford have now signed Shaheim Ward's brother Ty (pictured), well travelled Ty cut his teeth with Milton Keynes Dons Academy as a youngster before plying his trade with Chesham United, Dunstable Town, Colney Heath, AFC Rushden & Diamonds, Hemel Hempstead Town, Barton Rovers, Hungerford Town, St Ives Town and Milton Keynes Irish:

Ty Ward Signs for The Pirates | Real Bedford FC | Running Bitcoin

[Rhodes]

On 31/07/2024 at 10:17, Rhodes said:

Real Bedford Ladies travel to FA Women's National League Southern Premier Division Watford Ladies this evening (Wednesday 31 July), and the salubrious surroundings of Vicarage Road, for their latest 'loosener' ahead of the forthcoming, and eagerly awaited, 2024/25 FA Women's National League Division One South East campaign, kick off 7.00pm.

Real Bedford Ladies impressively triumphed 3-0 over a strong FA Women's National League Southern Premier Division Watford Ladies side on Wednesday evening at Watford's training facilities in St Albans and, disappointingly, not as expected at Vicarage Road. Following the cancellation of the fixture with AFC Wimbledon Ladies on Sunday (4 August) Charlie Bill's Ladies will now make the trip to Motspur Park in London to meet London & South East Women's Regional League Premier Division Fulham Ladies again who clearly enjoyed their visit to McMullen Park two weeks ago, on Sunday 21 July, in order to cordially invite the Ladies to their state of the art facilities (pictured) where the Club's Premier Division Men's team are put through their paces and train, kick off is at 2.30pm and it is free admission:

Edited August 3 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

St Neots Town's graphic for tomorrow's eagerly awaited FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round tie at McMullen Park, sorry, the Ledger Stadium 😉 tomorrow afternoon:

https://x.com/i/status/1818484297520627917

[Cruz]

Hi Everybody. Summer break now over and looking forward to the forthcoming season. Still maintaining an interest in the SML. Is Jordan Brown still a  St Neots player?

[RallyInRaleigh]

Can't wait to get it all underway. Toughest challenge yet. Can't wait to see the new squad in action. Sadly no stream for the game this weekend but maybe they'll do a live radio call as they did occasionally last season. 

[Rhodes]

17 hours ago, RallyInRaleigh said:

Can't wait to get it all underway. Toughest challenge yet. Can't wait to see the new squad in action. Sadly no stream for the game this weekend but maybe they'll do a live radio call as they did occasionally last season. 

RallyInRaleigh - I guess you will be on tenterhooks today at 10.00am your time, you're five hours behind us here aren't you, as I said earlier the draw could have been far worse, away to another Step 4 Club for example, however it still won't be a cake walk as United Counties League Premier Division South St Neots Town won't just turn up at the Ledger Stadium and lay down, they reached the Play-Off Semi Final last season and only lost 7-6 on penalties away from home:

[Rhodes]

22 hours ago, Cruz said:

Hi Everybody. Summer break now over and looking forward to the forthcoming season. Still maintaining an interest in the SML. Is Jordan Brown still a  St Neots player?

Nice to hear from you Cruz, I hope you are keeping well in Bolivia. Yes, you couldn't make it up could you, Jordan is still with St Neots Town and presumably will be playing against his former Club this afternoon, that's a big worry isn't it bearing in mind what he is capable of:

[Rhodes]

Currently 2-1 to Rob Sinclair's men at the Ledger Stadium (pictured) this afternoon after half an hour, St Neots Town took a shock very early lead however Ben Stevens equalised on 17 minutes and 'new kid on the block' Jack Snelus put Real Bedford ahead on 27 minutes:

[Winslow Boy]

5 hours ago, Rhodes said:

Currently 2-1 to Rob Sinclair's men at the Ledger Stadium (pictured) this afternoon after half an hour, St Neots Town took a shock very early lead however Ben Stevens equalised on 17 minutes and 'new kid on the block' Jack Snelus put Real Bedford ahead on 27 minutes:

How’d this foregone conclusion of a game finish up?

[Rhodes]

On 03/08/2024 at 21:13, Winslow Boy said:

How’d this foregone conclusion of a game finish up?

Winslow Boy - Yes, what a turn up for the books, I know it wasn't exactly Arsenal and Walsall in 1933, Newcastle v Hereford in 1972, Coventry v Sutton in 1989 or Arsenal v Wrexham in 1992 but, even so, fair play to St Neots Town who weren't at all daunted at visiting the Ledger Stadium and came away with the 3-2 win. As Greavsie once said 'it's a funny old game' or Fergie 'football, bloody hell', see some match reports:

Saints Progress In FA Cup As Pirates Are Pilaged In Pulsating Tie - St Neots Town FC

Pirates Lose Their Opening Game Against St Neots in the Fa Cup | Real Bedford FC | Running Bitcoin

St Neots shock the Pirates as Real Bedford dumped out of the FA Cup - Bedford Independent

Edited August 7 by Rhodes