Ambitious 7th tier club announce impressive new stadium plans

Ambitious 7th tier club Real Bedford FC, who sit third in the Southern League Premier Central, unveil impressive bold new stadium plans.

They hope to build on land at the International Athletics Stadium on Barkers Lane, with the ambition to bring league football to the town.

The Pirates, who sit on 72 points from 38 games played and have an average attendance of 445, currently play home games at McMullen Park, next to Bedford Town in Cardington. Co-owner Peter McCormack said that the plans were at an early stage, with no decision made and no proposal have been agreed with Bedford Borough Council.

Plans seen by the Bedford Independent detail a dedicated Real Bedford stadium on the corner of Barkers Lane and Newnham Avenue, with 3G football and rugby pitches, indoor football, a padel centre and a multi-use sports centre.

CLUB STATEMENT:

Our ambition for Bedford has always been clear. We want to bring league football to the town and build a club where our men’s and women’s teams compete at the highest level possible.

We have made strong progress in recent years, with both our men’s and women’s teams advancing through the leagues, and we are determined to build on that momentum. Central to this ambition is creating opportunities for local talent – ensuring that young players in Bedford and the surrounding communities can develop, compete and succeed at the highest possible level without having to leave the town. Alongside this, we are committed to expanding participation in sport and improving access for people of all ages and abilities.

Delivering this vision requires infrastructure that matches our ambition. For a number of years, we have been exploring plans for a new stadium and associated facilities capable of supporting the Club’s long-term growth.

In relation to the recently published Bedfordshire Independent article, the emerging proposals set out a vision for a new, integrated sports campus that would significantly enhance the quality and range of sporting facilities in Bedford. This includes a stadium alongside community facilities designed to support year-round use and wider participation.

It is important to emphasise that these proposals are at an early stage. No decisions have been made, and no proposals have been agreed with Bedford Borough Council. The design, scale and layout of any development will be refined through consultation and detailed technical assessment.

Credit – Bedford Independent

We recognise the importance of the existing athletics facilities and the opportunity to support their long-term future within a high-quality, well-invested multi-sport environment. We also recognise that there are a number of established and thriving users of the site, and it is a key principle of the project that these users are appropriately supported. The intention is to ensure that they are provided with facilities of an equivalent – and ideally enhanced – standard in the future, whether within the site or at an alternative location.

We understand that local residents will have important questions, particularly around traffic, parking, noise and lighting. These matters will be carefully considered as part of the planning process, and we are committed to ensuring that local views play a meaningful role in shaping the proposals as they develop.

In light of recent media interest, we are reviewing our approach to consultation with a view to bringing this forward. This will provide formal opportunities for stakeholders to learn more about the proposals, ask questions and provide feedback. The Masterplan will continue to evolve through this process, alongside detailed technical work, before any planning application is submitted.

We are committed to working collaboratively with Bedford Borough Council, local stakeholders and the wider community to ensure that any future proposals deliver lasting benefits for the town – supporting sport, health, and community life as part of Bedford’s wider growth and development.

Here’s what fans are saying as the ambitious 7th tier club announce impressive new stadium plans…

@Egan88uk: I hope it’s true, real Bedford putting positive investment into the town.

Dean Bates: Blows my brain how people are so quick to criticise and complain about the levels of investment in trying to build a successful club. Ambition seems to be frowned upon 🤷🏼‍♂️. Fair play to those behind Real Bedford that are making these investments and showing the ambition to be successful. As a Harborough Town fan with a lifelong connection to the club, it makes me laugh that we get the same hate. Best of luck to Real. Best footballing side we’ve come across all season. Hope we see you regularly as both clubs try and climb the levels 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Jon Scruby: Any investment to improve the town and people’s health in a collaborative manner can only be a good thing.

Michael Melbourne: Time will of course tell if this actually happens as mapped out.

Terry Richardson: Two-Bit Batman’s latest pipe-dream 🥱

Jack Terry: So many negative comments, Bedfords stuck in the stone age, nothing going for it anymore, this will be one small bit of improvement that would benefit more than it would hinder, up the bedford!

Richard Saunders: Fair play to real bedford and there owner wanting to better there club and town to many people live in the past fantastic news

Dean Howard: Looks impressive .. the future of Bedford football ⚽️ – not mention all the jobs it will bring to the county ..

Edward Taiani: The only sensible thing to do is merge the two Bedford clubs. I’m not au fait with the politics of the situation, but one club has the money, the other has the fan base. Together, you would have a club that would not only reach the Football League, but would thrive. Nice new stadium and training facilities, what’s not to like? Not merging would be like cutting off your nose to spite your face. Name the new club Bedford United and away you go!!

David Orme: From a Burton Albion supporter of over 45 years home and away. Build slowly and never get the club in debt and you could do like what my club have done but don’t just throw money at it or you will become the next Rushden and Diamonds. Good luck 🤞

Gary Hughes: As you say Peter, early days but this is a very good start to building on what’s already been achieved to date and the future potential for the club and Bedford as a whole. I for one and my businesses are fully behind all of this. Much love and support. ❤️

social media user: Fabulous and brilliant. This is well needed.: But not necessarily there. You can’t get a parking spot anywhere on a Blues home day and if the sun’s out it’s chocker too. It’s not the right location for this but be really good to see this come off elsewhere.

Robert Fraser: They’ll build it quicker than Lutons