Bedford FC

[Rhodes]

Real Bedford Ladies entertain AFC Sudbury Ladies on Sunday (22 September) in an FA Women's National League Division One South East fixture which, disappointingly, for whatever reason, will not be live streamed. The visitors have started their campaign reasonably well, beating Queens Park Rangers Ladies and Chesham United Ladies, so will be no push overs: 

https://www.realbedford.com/real-bedford-women-v-afc-sudbury?mc_cid=416f1fe603&mc_eid=cfa9735dc6

Edited September 22 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Let's get ready to rumble then:

[RallyInRaleigh]

Let's get ready to rumble

[Rhodes]

15 minutes ago, RallyInRaleigh said:

Let's get ready to rumble

RallyInRaleigh - Yes, indeed, such a shame that tomorrow's tie isn't being live streamed, there might be specific rules for FA Cup, FA Trophy and FA Vase ties being streamed:

[Rhodes]

What can you say, Real Bedford progress emphatically to the next round of the prestigious FA Trophy:

[Rhodes]

On 20/09/2024 at 22:47, Rhodes said:

What can you say, Real Bedford progress emphatically to the next round of the prestigious FA Trophy

See a match report, local press coverage and the impressive match programme from yesterday's 4-0 win over Leighton Town at the Ledger Stadium:

Real Bedford Advance in the Trophy with Dominant 4-0 Victory Over Leighton Town | Real Bedford FC | Running Bitcoin

Stevens stunner secures Real Bedford's safe passage through to next round of FA Trophy - Bedford Independent

#50 v Leighton Town (FA Trophy) (squarespace.com)

[Rhodes]

A worrying injury update from the Club however Rob Sinclair's men are still somehow managing to win games convincingly without key players:

Injury Report: Key Player Updates and Recovery Status | Real Bedford FC | Running Bitcoin

Edited September 27 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

On 17/09/2024 at 15:05, Rhodes said:

Real Bedford Ladies entertain AFC Sudbury Ladies on Sunday (22 September) in an FA Women's National League Division One South East fixture which, disappointingly, for whatever reason, will not be live streamed. The visitors have started their campaign reasonably well, beating Queens Park Rangers Ladies and Chesham United Ladies, so will be no push overs: 

Real Bedford Ladies FA Women's National League Division One South East fixture with AFC Sudbury Ladies at the Ledger Stadium this afternoon was disappointingly called off at short notice due to heavy rain and thunderstorms:

https://www.afcsudbury.co.uk/news/women-away-to-real-bedford-off-off-off-2874690.html

[Rhodes]

On 25/07/2024 at 15:29, Rhodes said:

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

Some photographs from Real Bedford's 6-0 win at Willen Road on Tuesday evening, courtesy of photographer Shea Whiston:

After the Lord Mayor's Show but, for 'completeness', I don't believe all these photographs were posted previously from the pre-season friendly with Newport Pagnell Town, and the comprehensive 6-0 win, courtesy of photography Andrew Gardner:

[LondonEagle]

On 14/09/2024 at 12:46, Rhodes said:

Could Bedford Town not move their fixture with Redditch United to the Friday night out of courtesy and respect for Real Bedford as the attendance is going to be bigger at the Ledger Stadium than at the redeveloped Eyrie isn't it:

923 at the Eyrie versus Redditch. What was the crowd at McMullen Park. Must have been higher than that, eh?   

[Rhodes]

12 hours ago, LondonEagle said:

923 at the Eyrie versus Redditch. What was the crowd at McMullen Park. Must have been higher than that, eh?   

Fair enough, Bedford Town, surprisingly, got the higher attendance at the weekend however there were 546 at the Ledger Stadium on Friday evening, an amazing effort for a Friday evening with getting there after work and traffic chaos to contend with, that was my initial point that the figures would surely have been much closer had Bedford Town played on the Friday and Real Bedford on Saturday. I see there was a local press article on the two fixtures, prior to play, stating that it was Real Bedford's first ever Friday night fixture, yet another first for the Club since Peter McCormack's arrival, not sure whether Bedford United, Bedford United & Valerio, Bedford Valerio United or Bedford ever played on a Friday:

https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/friday-night-lights-at-real-kick-off-bumper-weekend-of-local-sport-in-bedford/

[Rhodes]

Here we go folks, the draw for the FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round that sees Real Bedford travel to, wait for it, no not Bedford Town, who enter the competition at this stage, but Isthmian League Premier Division outfit Bowers & Pitsea, the tie is due to be played at the compact Len Salmon stadium in rural Essex on Saturday 5 October. It certainly won't be a cake walk for Rob Sinclair's men against opposition a Step higher in the Pyramid albeit struggling this season and joint bottom of the table:

https://www.thefa.com/news/2024/sep/23/fa-trophy-third-round-qualifying-draw-20242309

Edited September 30 by Rhodes

[LondonEagle]

7 hours ago, Rhodes said:

Fair enough, Bedford Town, surprisingly, got the higher attendance at the weekend however there were 546 at the Ledger Stadium on Friday evening, an amazing effort for a Friday evening with getting there after work and traffic chaos to contend with, that was my initial point that the figures would surely have been much closer had Bedford Town played on the Friday and Real Bedford on Saturday. I see there was a local press article on the two fixtures, prior to play, stating that it was Real Bedford's first ever Friday night fixture, yet another first for the Club since Peter McCormack's arrival, not sure whether Bedford United, Bedford United & Valerio, Bedford Valerio United or Bedford ever played on a Friday:

https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/friday-night-lights-at-real-kick-off-bumper-weekend-of-local-sport-in-bedford/

If you read Pete's programme notes, it says he wanted to test the water for a Friday night game. 

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/619758344d16e93725c39d0a/t/66ed4572fd7dbb1142bcb5d7/1726825864061/%2350+v+Leighton+Town+(FA+Trophy)-compressed.pdf

A Saturday game would have clashed with Bedford Blues at home, even if Bedford Town had moved theirs to a Friday night. Indeed Peter himself went to both the Pirates and the Eagles game, and he probably wasn't the only one who went to both games, thereby boosting both attendances. Plus other fans would have been able to watch both The Piratss and Bedford Blues, or the Pirates and Luton.

People assume Saturday at 3pm is when fans want games to be played, but that's not necessarily the case. A Friday night KO also allows local Saturday footballers to attend.   

[LondonEagle]

 

[Rhodes]

It's early days but how do we see the FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round tie at Bowers & Pitsea panning out on Saturday 5 October:

Edited September 30 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

I wonder whether the Ladies FA Women's National League Division One South East fixture with Cambridge United Ladies at the Ledger Stadium tomorrow evening will go ahead with all the local flooding, it would be a shame if it is postponed as a rare live stream is planned:

https://www.realbedford.com/live-stream

https://www.realbedford.com/real-bedford-women-v-cambridge-united?mc_cid=1ddc9bbb6c&mc_eid=cfa9735dc6

Edited September 24 by Rhodes

[LondonEagle]

4 hours ago, Rhodes said:

I wonder whether the Ladies FA Women's National League Division One South East fixture with Cambridge United Ladies at the Ledger Stadium tomorrow evening will go ahead with all the local flooding, it would be a shame if it is postponed as a rare live stream is planned:

https://www.realbedford.com/live-stream

 

The New Eyrie car park is currently flooded - the water being cleared to try and get tonight's game on - no problems with the new pitch.

Hopefully the surrounding roads can also be cleared of water in time, all this could impact RB tomorrow as well, although with the amount of rainfall would guess the pitch is flooded.     

[Rhodes]

18 minutes ago, LondonEagle said:

The New Eyrie car park is currently flooded - the water being cleared to try and get tonight's game on - no problems with the new pitch. Hopefully the surrounding roads can also be cleared of water in time, all this could impact RB tomorrow as well, although with the amount of rainfall would guess the pitch is flooded.     

LondonEagle - Thanks for the update, it's typical that Bedford has been the worst effected place in the entire Country for rainfall, I guess the Club's brave decision to install a 3g pitch at the Eyrie is already paying dividends as the fixture with Leiston this evening would have most certainly been postponed otherwise. I wonder whether Mr McCormack is considering it next door at the Ledger Stadium, it would be pocket change to him unlike the way Bedford Town 'begged, stole and borrowed' to fund it and then, incredibly, cut their nose off to spite their face by not accepting Mr McCormack's generous contribution of £10,000.

Edited September 24 by Rhodes

[LondonEagle]

38 minutes ago, Rhodes said:

LondonEagle - Thanks for the update, it's typical that Bedford has been the worst effected place in the entire Country for rainfall, I guess the Club's brave decision to install a 3g pitch at the Eyrie is already paying dividends as the fixture with Leiston this evening would have most certainly been postponed otherwise. I wonder whether Mr McCormack is considering it next door at the Ledger Stadium, it would be pocket change to him unlike the way Bedford Town 'begged, stole and borrowed' to fund it and then, incredibly, cut their nose off to spite their face by not accepting Mr McCormack's generous contribution of £10,000.

Fully funded by the investors, actually - £750k plus.

Well he won't spend that sort of money without a long-term lease.      

[Rhodes]

Here we go folks, the draw for the Women's FA Cup Third Qualifying Round has been made that sees Real Bedford Ladies, who enter the competition at this stage, travel to, wait for it, Cambridge United Ladies who, coincidentally, weather permitting, they meet tomorrow evening, at the Ledger Stadium, in a FA Women's National League Division One South East fixture. The tie is sheduled to be played at St Neots Town FC, on Sunday 13 October, kick off 2.00pm, where the Club's Ladies team normally ply their trade however there is a chance it could well be switched to Cambridge United's plush Abbey Stadium. It's certainly a winnable tie for Real Bedford Ladies however it could have perhaps been slightly easier against a lower level side who have so far come through the two previous Qualifying Rounds:  

https://www.thefa.com/news/2024/sep/24/adobe-womens-fa-cup-third-qualifying-round-draw-20242409

Edited September 24 by Rhodes