THE Blues play their second consecutive away game on the bounce this weekend when they head to Real Bedford for a first-ever visit (3pm kick off)writes Craig Cooper.

The Blues win at AFC Sudbury last weekend, thanks to goals from Fraser Alexander, Joao Rangel and Ronnie Blois, meant Leiston stayed 8th in the league table.

Chris Wigger will be without Harvey Sayer, who broke his wrist last weekend, but Kyle Callan-McFadden and Jude Frostick are expected to be back involved with the squad.

Real Bedford are currently third in the league table, having taken a very healthy 59 points from their 29 games so far, in their very first season at Step 3.

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: W L W W W
BLUES: W D W D D

GAMES AHEAD FOR BLUES
Saturday 7th March: Stratford Town (HOME)
Saturday 14th March: Stamford (Away)
Saturday 21st March: Worcester City (HOME)
Saturday 28th March: Banbury United (HOME)

MATCH INFORMATION
Real Bedford v Blues
Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central
Saturday, February 28, 3pm kick off
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 33/42