Match Preview

This Saturday we play our away fixture with Bedford Town Football Club. They are based in Cardington Bedfordshire and play at the Eyrie Stadium, Meadow Lane. The stadium holds 3000 supporters, and they play on a grass pitch measuring 100m x 50m.

Bedford have a nickname of ‘The Eagles’ and their home kit is a blue shirt, shorts and socks, and away it’s a yellow shirt, shorts and socks. The goalkeeper wears a green shirt and black shorts and socks.

Bedford were founded 1908 and initially they played in the United Counties League and its forerunners, the Northampton League and Northampton Alliance.

They originally played in a black and amber strip, but this was changed to a blue and white one at the start of the 1950-51 season. After 74 years, the Club folded in 1982 when the owners of the ground in Queens Park applied their right to end the lease. When plans to build a new stadium near Barkers Lane, Bedford, failed, the Club was wound up. This meant the Club had to find their own ground in order to be promoted. The Council finally decided a site at Meadow Lane, Cardington, a former council tree nursery, would be the most suitable, and with financial support from the council, and much hard work from supporters and committee members, the New Eyrie was ready for the opening night game against Peterborough United watched by a crowd of over 3,000.

Sutton have to get over the disappointment of the loss last week, and go again against another tough opponent who are also looking to get into the playoffs at the end of the season. Bedford have won their last two games but have been beaten in recent weeks, so Sutton will have a good chance if they are on their game today.

Sutton beat Bedford earlier in the season, but it was a close-run game just as I feel today’s game will be. Win? They must if the play-offs are to remain on the cards.

Evostik South Division 1 Central.

Here’s to an entertaining and successful game.

COME ON YOU ROYALS.