Bedford F.C.

Bedford
Full name Bedford Football Club
Founded 1957 (as Bedford United F.C.)
2002 (as Bedford United & Valerio)
Ground McMullen Park
Bedford
Manager Luke Capon
League Spartan South Midlands League
Premier Division
2014–15 Spartan South Midlands League
Division One, 3rd (promoted)

Bedford F.C. are a football club based in Bedford, England. The club is affiliated to the Bedfordshire County Football Association. Bedford play in the Spartan South Midlands League Division One.

History

Bedford United FC was formed in 1957 as the works team of printers Diemer & Reynolds. Founder member, the late Jim McMullen, is remembered in the name of the ground, McMullen Park. The club first played on a local works pitch, then moved to nearby Cople before settling at Allen Park, Bedford. They then moved to Fairhill, Clapham Road and played there until Sainsbury’s bought the land. As part of the deal with the Council the club was relocated to Hillgrounds, Kempston until moving to the present ground in 1996. Bedford United entered into a trial merger with Bedford Town in 2000, but season 2001–02 saw them back with their own administration. After protracted discussions with a local football club, US Valerio, the two clubs decided to join forces and become Bedford United & Valerio FC for season 2002–03.

Formerly known as the Unione Sportiva Valerio, the name coming from the Italian for “Sporting Union”, plus the surname of the founder Mr. Nicola Valerio, US Valerio started in 1985 in the Michael R Peters Sunday League achieving relative success over the years. US Valerio won the Harrison & Rowley Cup in season 2005–06. It did not get into junior and youth football until the 2000–01 season when four teams were entered into the former Bedford Chesham League.

A full merger between Bedford United and US Valerio was completed at the end of 2005–06 season and for 2006–07 the club used the name of Bedford Valerio United FC. With the demise of the Valerio Group in 2007, the club decided to adopt the shortened name of Bedford Football Club from 2007–08 onwards.

Records

References

  1. 1 2 Bedford at the Football Club History Database

External links

Coordinates: 52°07′40.05″N 0°24′54.29″W / 52.1277917°N 0.4150806°W / 52.1277917; -0.4150806

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