Bedford FC

[Rhodes]

On 31/03/2025 at 17:22, Rhodes said:

Somewhat of a shock result yesterday afternoon for Real Bedford Ladies as they failed to win for the first time in seven League outings with a 0-0 draw at a dogged and decent AFC Sudbury Ladies side, see local press coverage. Fortunately it only delays the inevitable with Norwich City Ladies still five points behind in the FA Women's National League Division One South East table with just two fixtures remaining, Real Bedford Ladies can secure the Championship, and promotion, with a win over bottom of the table London Seaward Ladies at the Ledger Stadium on Sunday 13 April which is of course part of the CheatCode Conference weekend in Bedford with Real Bedford Men's team possibly securing the Southern League Division One Chamionship the day before, also at a near capacity Ledger Stadium, against Kings Langley with Club co-owners the Winkelvoss twins in attendance. What an incredible season it has been

The clock is ticking folks, not long now until the incredible CheatCode Conference weekend as well as arguably the two Chamionship deciders for the Men's and Women's teams:

[Rhodes]

Let's get ready to rumble for tomorrow's (Saturday 5 April) Southern League Division One Central fixture with Aylesbury United, see a link to the early match programme:

download PDF Download

[Rhodes]

No difficulties again then for Rob Sinclair's men at Aylesbury United on Saturday (5 April) with a 4-1 victory and with Berkhamsted FC incredibly failing to beat lowly Kiddlington at home the Southern League Division One Championship can be secured next Saturday at the Ledger Stadium against Kings Langley as part of the CheatCode Conference weekend with the Ladies team securing their own FA Women's National League Division One South East Championship the following afternoon. See a match report and local press coverage with Archie Jones, Ben Stevens and a brace from, who else, Joey Evans scoring the goals at The Meadow:

https://www.realbedford.com/news/the-pirates-delivered-another-impressive-performance-cruising-to-a-4-1-victory-over-aylesbury-united

https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/real-bedford-one-game-away-from-league-title-after-aylesbury-win/

Edited 21 hours ago by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

A lot of recent and interesting posts on another Forum, again make of them what you will especially the penultimate one where it says 'There was an update from Bedford board in Saturday's programme which basically said it might happen or it might not!', to clarify that's the Bedford Town match programme:

But surely there are more passionate, vocal Bedford Town fans who will surely have kicked up a fuss? I honestly can't believe they're all in the dark about it and not knowing what's going on. It seems like Bedford Town fans are, like their club, happy to be bent over backwards by someone with a bit of money and "ambition" I know for a fact if that was my club, as it once was, there would be an outcry, and protests etc, but yet you're suggesting Bedford Town fans are just forgetting about it because their team is in a good position in the league? Sounds very strange to me.

Agree, there has been chants of you can stick your Bitcoin up your arse at games. Fans Forum people were told it was very early stages of talks. Actually it was far more advanced than that but only people with inside information would know that. Since then there's been completely radio silence from both Club's on it really, so maybe some assume it's not happening. Some key Fans were fed the line that the name on the contract is Bedford Town so there's no chance of a name change. That was passed on and many probably believed it, the owners don't care what anyone thinks they carved the deal up between them months ago. Yes, later on quite a few may well end up wishing they'd kicked up more of a fuss but would it have stopped it happening? Basically, no.

Very difficult to see what they can do, the shareholders appear to have already agreed to sell. The buyer probably has exclusivity and will probably be owed compensation if the sellers speak to another party. This seems to have gone public beyond the point at which there's any realistic possibility of fan protests having much impact. Ironically I think protest at the Real Bedford end could have more impact. Even then I suspect it would be too late. He'll have done his sums. He knows some fans will walk away but if he has a successful season or two with a merged Club, it's likely gates will rise as new fans are attracted and the deal gets him a better ground grading. Would he stop the deal if a significant protest emerged at the Real Bedford end? Probably not. This is a long term play.

The other option is that Bedford Town cut their cloth accordingly and stop trying to outdo their vastly wealthier neighbours. They are not going bust, they just have an owner who has spent far too much money to get them to where they are and can no longer afford it. He could have said, look I can't afford this anymore, are their any other investors out there willing to come in, or shall we cut the budget back and live within our means. Bedford Town's level of support is such that matchday revenue they bring in could easily keep them afloat at Step 4. Now we are faced with the ludicrous situation where it would appear Real Bedford will move into the stadium being watched by 200 people while alienating a large portion of the town's football fans who more than likely will set up another Bedford Club and end up playing in a park again being watched by many more people than a Club who can bankroll their way to the top of the non-league game with ease.

I thought that I read on here that Town said they were in financial trouble at the supporters forum hence the merger deal? and that's why I suggested a ground share so that both clubs could continue their journeys without one being wiped from history by the other who just wants their ground. Jon Taylor's dad supported Town for over 70 years so I'm shocked that he is in favour of the merger. Back on March 22nd someone on Facebook said it was decision time for Bedford Town.

There's a reasonable amount of debt I think at Bedford Town in terms of Directors loans. If Real Bedford surpass them then any hope they have of ever recovering that money probably goes. Having tried to buy BTFC a few years back, McCormack will be well aware of the loans. Effectively he is offering to take the club off their hands and they will probably get back all or most of what they have put in.

If this merger has gone ahead what are the rules about which Division they play in ? I was told it had to be the lower division of the two Club's but is that the case?

Town owners are long-term supporters and the terms of the merger (name, colours etc.) were open to negotiation, is how I took the initial announcement at face value. Now it seems Town are heavily in debt to their owners and Real hold all the aces, other than not having an adequate ground. Why didn't the Town owners just sell to McCormack in the first place? Has all this debt been accrued in the 3 years or so since they turned him down? Was the money they loaned to BTFC actually theirs in the first place, or have they remortgaged their homes or borrowed it from elsewhere? Or maybe McCormack and his billionaire backers have simply made an offer too good to refuse? They say every man has his price.

Both grounds owned by Council. It's not just the FA, even if there is a broad basic agreement between the 2 Club's - we are now almost mid-April - friiendlies will be starting in less than 3 months, to get all the legal complexitiies over the line and things like a design a kit, badge and manufacture it in time is a lot to do.

There was an update from Bedford board in Saturday's programme which basically said it might happen or it might not!

Apparently fans can contact the FA if they are not happy or have concerns about the merger although it's not quite clear how you go about doing this. I mean, it's only 3 years since he took over Bedford FC and changed their name so they may have a few raised eyebrows about dealing with him again so soon, although they probably would not block it just for that.

Edited 21 hours ago by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

An interesting, and well put together, video from a Blogger called 'Fusion Josh' who attended the Bedford Town v Kettering Town fixture on Friday 21 February, he covers the proposed merger of Bedford Town and Real Bedford. I wonder what London Eagle thinks 😉

I travelled to Bedford Town as they faced Kettering in a top of the table clash however the main story is the link with Real Bedford and the potential merge between the two...

Edited 6 hours ago by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

I am a little bit surprised that LondonEgle hasn't been on to give his 'influential' review of the current position at both Bedford Town and Real Bedford, I still have a gut feeling that nothing whatsover will happen with the so called 'merger', the most important thing for Real Bedford is surely the groundshare as obviously the Club have aspirations to reach the promised land, and the Premier League in 2031/32, it's a rollercoaster ride of Blackpool proportions for the Club isn't it, unlike at Bedford Town, maybe that is why they are so against the proposed merger and so 'set in their ways' that they can't see the 'light at the end of the rainbow'.

Edited 3 hours ago by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Here we go folks, over fifty photographs from Real Bedford's comprehensive 4-1 victory at Aylesbury United last Saturday (5 April), courtesy of Aylesbury United's excellent Club photographer Mike Snell, with strikes from Archie Jones, Ben Stevens and a brace from, who else, Joey Evans:

[Rhodes]

On 01/04/2025 at 22:26, LondonEagle said:

"Man opens small coffee shop in large town" is actually now a BBC news story?

LondonEagle - Sorry, why can't you just take a step back, breathe, and see the big picture, Bedford will have a Premier League Club in 2031/32, is that not what you want.

[LondonEagle]

1 hour ago, Rhodes said:

LondonEagle - Sorry, why can't you just take a step back, breathe, and see the big picture, Bedford will have a Premier League Club in 2031/32, is that not what you want.

Lol where it will play this Premier League club? Takes years to get planning permission and build a ground for 20,000 plus fans. If the merger happens, 90 per cent of the Bedford Town fans I know are walking away next season.  

Edited 1 hour ago by LondonEagle

[Rhodes]

13 minutes ago, LondonEagle said:

Lol where it will play this Premier League club? Takes years to get planning permission and build a ground for 20,000 plus fans. If the merger happens, 90 per cent of the Bedford Town fans I know are walking away next season.  

LondonEagle - Well look at Bournemouth, their capacity is 11,500 and they are in the Premier Division. Why not just accept it, and progress, and enjoy the amazing rollercoaster ride under Mr McCormack.

[LondonEagle]

6 minutes ago, Rhodes said:

LondonEagle - Well look at Bournemouth, their capacity is 11,500 and they are in the Premier Division. Why not just accept it, and progress, and enjoy the amazing rollercoaster ride under Mr McCormack.

Where will this 11,500 stadium be?

Good luck to him. It's possible to wish someone well without feeling part of it.