THE Blues play their second consecutive away game on the bounce on Tuesday when they head to Real Bedford for a first-ever visit, in their penultimate away game of the campaign (7.45pm kick off) writes Craig Cooper.

The Blues win at Quorn on Saturday, thanks to goals from Joao Rangel and Ronnie Blois, helped Leiston to a valuable win as they remained 11th in the league table.

Chris Wigger will have Wyatt Hill back available, after the defender missed the weekend’s game in Leicestershire through a suspension.

Real Bedford are currently third in the league table, having taken a very healthy 75 points from their 39 games so far, in their very first season at Step 3.

Leiston want to end the season on a high as we are now into the final two weeks of the regulation season.

In the reverse fixture on Saturday 29th November 2025, the Blues beat Real Bedford 1-0, thanks to Eddie Jackson’s goal after the half hour mark. Leiston then had Kyle Callan-McFadden sent off on 36 minutes but the team dug in well late on to secure a really good three points.

A BRIEF HISTORY ABOUT REAL BEDFORD

REAL Bedford were established in 2002 after two teams, Bedford United and US Valerio, merged together.

Bedford United had been a local Saturday team in the area since 1957 and had played in the Midlands League and Spartans League while US Valerio had been a Sunday side since 1985.

In 2002, they were called Bedford United and Valerio, and took their spot in the Premier Division of the Spartan South Midlands League. They were relegated three seasons later to Division One before being renamed again, this time to Bedford Valerio United, in 2006, while they changed their name back to Bedford a year later in 2007.

They won the 2013 Bedfordshire Senior Cup, while off the pitch, in 2022, they were taken over by Peter McCormack, who is a BitCoin Poscaster. He stated that his ambition was to reach the Premier League.

Before the start of the 2022/2023 season, the club changed their name to Real Bedford, and they again won the Bedfordshire Senior Cup and also won their respective league, earning promotion.

The team’s home ground is McMullen Park and they are nicknamed ‘The Pirates’.

Their Chairman is Peter McCormack while Rob Sinclair is their manager.

ABOUT BEDFORD (THE TOWN)

BEDFORD had just under 107,000 people living in the town, according to the 2011 Census.

The average price to buy a house in Bedford was £331,000 in December 2025, having risen 5.2% annually.

Bedford became an official town in 1166 and the town has had representatives in the Houses of Parliament since 1265.

Bedford also has four Rudby Union teams in the form of Bedford Blues, Bedford Queens, Bedford Swifts and Bedford Athletic. They have one Rugby League team called Bedford Tigers.

FORM GUIDE:
(Most recent league game first)
REAL BEDFORD: WWLWD
BLUES: WLLWW

GAMES AHEAD FOR BLUES
Saturday 18th April: Spalding United (HOME)
Saturday 25th April: Alvechurch (Away)

MATCH INFORMATION
Real Bedford v Blues
Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central
Tuesday, April 14, 7.45pm.
The Ledger Stadium, McMullen Park, Meadow Lane, Goldington Road, Bedford, MK44 3SB.

Admission Prices
(Advanced Prices)
Adults £10, Concessions £6, Under 18's Free of charge

(On the day)
Adults £12, Concessions £8, Under 18's £2

Game 39/42