Open Letter to Bedford from our Chairman, Peter McCormack
Dear Bedfordians,
As the chairman of Real Bedford Football Club, I am writing to you today with an appeal for your support—not just for this season, but for the long-term vision we have for Bedford.
We have a big weekend ahead at the club, with both our men’s and women’s sides playing crucial league matches, and we want to see the stands packed with passionate fans.
Two years ago, we took on the enormous challenge of transforming Bedford's football trajectory. The goal was ambitious—perhaps even audacious: to see our little town’s club rise to the heights of the Premier League. Many laughed, and it was understandable. With just 40 fans, a modest stadium, and nine promotions to achieve, it seemed impossible. But here we are, having secured back-to-back promotions, winning a cup each year, and making history with the largest investment ever in a non-league football club. Now, with US billionaire co-owners, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, by our side, we share the same burning ambition: Premier League football.
Our vision has expanded further with the addition of the Real Bedford women’s team. Their mission is equally clear—to climb the ladder to the Women's Super League, just four promotions away. Like the men’s team, our women’s side has had a phenomenal start, achieving a league and cup treble in their debut season. This year, we are proud to say they will be competing in the national league, with clubs like Norwich and QPR coming to Bedford.
Rapid progress comes with its challenges, from building the necessary infrastructure to managing the increased costs. Yet, despite these hurdles, we have managed to move forward without losing money.
To continue this success, we need your support more than ever. When we started, our matches were attended by just 40 fans. Today, our average attendance has grown to 260, with a record crowd of over 1,000. Our women’s team has also seen significant growth, averaging over 100 attendees last year.
Growing our fanbase is crucial. A strong, passionate crowd not only boosts the teams’ performances but builds a fortress. So, this letter is my personal appeal to you: if you haven't yet attended a match, please come down and see what we are building. If you are already a fan, I urge you to keep coming and bring along your friends and family.
A successful local football club can mean so much for our town. So far we've been able to invest in youth football with Real Bedford Girls and BPR, ensure that no child in Bedford is prevented from playing football due to economic barriers through our hardship fund, establish Real Bedford Netball, and launch The Bedford Future Fund to invest in talented young people in our community. But we want to do so much more.
This is a collective effort, and with your support, we can achieve so much. My team and I are committed to putting in the long hours and hard work to make this club successful and to keep climbing the leagues. But we cannot do it alone—we need the support of the entire town.
So if you have some free time this weekend, please come and support our teams:
Men’s Match: Saturday, 3pm kickoff at home against Welwyn Garden City. After winning our first two league games, we’re looking to keep the momentum going towards what could be a remarkable third successive promotion.
Women’s Match: Sunday, 2pm kickoff at home against Ashford Town. They are aiming for back-to-back promotions.
Kids get in free, and we have a bar and food available.
You can buy tickets at the gate or online here: https://www.realbedford.com/tickets
The matches will be held at: Ledger Stadium
McMullen Park
Meadow Lane
Bedford
MK44 3SB
Thank you for your continued support.
Up The Pirates!
Peter McCormack
Chairman, Real Football Club
ABOUT REAL BEDFORD FC
Real Bedford FC is a non-league football club based in Bedford. Acquired by Peter McCormack in 2021, he set the ambitious goal of getting the team into the football league. After rebranding as Real Bedford, they won a league and cup double in their first season and were promoted to the Spartan South Midlands Premier League. During the 2023/24 campaign, the Men’s team not only completed back-to-back League and Cup doubles, but RBFC Women completed an inaugural treble. The club also received a ground-breaking investment from the Winklevoss Twins who became part-owners of the club in April 2024 after an initial $4.5m investment.
The club prides itself on its strong and growing community ties and dedication to developing local talent. With a focus on fostering an inclusive and supportive environment, Real Bedford FC aims to create opportunities for aspiring footballers and promote the sport's growth within the Bedford region.
