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Bedford Athletic RFC |
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Wentworth Drive Bedford Bedfordshire MK41 8QA UK Main Rugby Club Website Contact Person: Chris Jordan Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Phone: 01234-378836 The Club was founded on 16 April 1908 and has used many grounds in the town. The first was in Kimbolton Road opposite the Park Hotel. The second in Bedford Park by the lake, the third behind the Fox & Hounds PH in Goldington Road , 'where a pond encroached on the pitch in which stood the corner flag'. Many other grounds were used but the move in 1924 to Newnham Lane , now known as Newnham Avenue , was a significant one for the club stayed there, apart from the war years, until 1970. The Club has always been prepared to work hard to provide its facilities, which it has then invited the public to share. In 1933, during the depression, the then Secretary, Captain E.H.G.Chambers raised funds and under his guidance, some unemployed, mainly ex-servicemen levelled the whole of the area which now contains municipal playing fields and the Athletics Stadium. It was because of these efforts that Bedford Corporation gave the club priority over the use of these grounds. During the war the changing room at the north-east corner of the field suffered badly and, until Murketts garage (now Lex) was built, a redundant fire service hut at the corner of Barkers Lane became the HQ. The club then moved the hut to where the fire station now stands. The Council took pity on the Ath when the County Fire Service took over the site and the club were offered the lease on the land that it now occupies. This is green belt land adjacent to the town boundary. The Ath's nearest neighbours lived in a pair of cottages opposite where the Bluebell pub now stands. Undeterred by the fact that it was over a half a mile down a track with no services, club members set to and levelled, drained and seeded the pitches and like the 1930's members overcame all obstacles and eventually built the clubhouse seen today. The club is proud of the fact that it has never yet had to ask for ratepayers money to provide facilities that the Town can be proud of and that are offered to other organisations when asked. The facilities are frequently used by local societies, have been used as a play school, by Bedfordshire Schools, dog shows, archery, ladies rugby and most Sundays during the season, hundreds of boys use the ground for Mini Rugby. During the summer the club enter a side in the Beds & District Cricket League, which in recent years have been rather successful and in season 2006 the Ath won the Second Division. Bedford Athletic won the first ever Bedfordshire Cup competition in season 1971-72 defeating Colmworth House in the final. The same year the club progressed to the East Midlands Cup Final at Franklins Gardens although this time without success losing out to Rushden. Bedford Athletic competed in the first four finals of the Bedfordshire Cup winning the trophy again in 1975. Success in the East Midlands Cup had to wait until 1983 when that Trophy was carried off for the first time with a victory over Peterborough . When the leagues began in season 1987-88 the Ath were placed in the East Midlands/Leicestershire league and for the first few seasons finished steadily in mid table, until in 1991 having won 8 and lost 2 league games the club finished top of the table. The club then settled comfortably in Midlands Two for seven consecutive seasons before the historic season of 1997/98. In this season not only did the club go undefeated they won a grand slam of titles including the Intermediate Cup Final at Twickenham when Stroud were defeated 29-24. Both the Bedfordshire Cup and East Midlands Cup titles were captured and the Midlands Two league conquered as the first team won all 16 league matches achieving the club's highest ever season points total of 718. Nothing could really top that season but the following campaign nearly did, as the Bedfordshire and East Midlands Cups were captured once again and the Midlands One league title secured at the first attempt, however this time with one defeat. With the new Millennium came the new experience of playing National League rugby and the first team competed in National Three North for four consecutive seasons before being relegated due to the "cascade" effect in 2003 - which was the previous RFU device for rebalancing leagues on a regional basis. Thus the Ath found themselves back in Midlands One for the 2003/04 season. This proved to be no bad thing as the Ath were able to secure a loan from the RFU to enable the extension and refurbishment of the clubhouse. This was completed by the end of the 2004/05 season by which time the club were back in the National Leagues having won Midlands One at the first attempt the previous season. However 6 wins from 26 matches was an inadequate return and for the third season in a row the Ath changed leagues back to Midlands One. A titanic struggle for promotion in season 2005/06 saw the Ath eventually finish second to Rugby Lions despite only losing three matches and then lose the promotion play-off in extra time to West Park St. Helens 24-17. In contrast last season was fraught with difficulties as injuries, particularly to the pack took their toll, and despite doing the double over league champions Luton, Ath found themselves dragged into a relegation battle. Eventually Ath won two of their last three games and drew the final fixture at home to Scunthorpe to ensure survival, albeit on points difference. This was a freakish league season as ten wins and one draw out of twenty-two matches would normally deliver a comfortable mid-table position. Following the end of the season Ed Axon has stood down as Director of Rugby and been replaced by David August as Chairman of Playing. Peter Taylor and Ashley Tapper continue as coaches and with a number of new recruits the club is looking once again to make a significant impact in this its Centenary Season. Club Colours: Black And White |
| Date added: 2008-03-07 07:40:59 Hits: 42 |
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