It’s been a long wait for the town’s top football teams, but after ten months of waiting in frustration, Bedford Town and Kempston Rovers return to league football this weekend.
Bedford Town travel to league new boys Waltham Abbey while Kempston Rovers travel to North Leigh in a bid to start off the new campaign with three points.
There is an air of expectation, especially at The Eyrie, where the Eagles will once again be spearheaded by former Football League strikers Craig Mackail-Smith and Rene Howe in a bid for promotion.
However, Waltham Abbey will provide a stern test, with the Essex side top of their division in the Isthmian League in the last campaign, which was curtailed by the pandemic, achieving an average of two points per game.
On the other hand, Kempston Rovers will look to stave off relegation, with the Walnuts second bottom of the division last time out before the season was unilaterally cancelled.
Competitive action has already returned at Hillgrounds with Rovers already dumped out of the FA Cup by Suffolk side, Whitton United, losing 2-1 in a replay on Tuesday night.
Taylor Bakogeorge secured a replay for Rovers last weekend – who announced Mark Royal as their new manager – but were unable to hold Whitton despite a second half goal for Ayomide Akinbobola.
Bedford Town have the luxury of achieving a bye through to the preliminary round where they will face St Neots Town next weekend.
Both sides are in home league action on Tuesday night, with Kempston Rovers hosting Welwyn Garden City, with Gary Setchell’s Bedford Town hosting Harlow Town at the Eyrie.
Elsewhere, Bedford FC won both of their opening games 3-2, against Shefford Town and Campton, and Wellingborough Whitworth in Division One of the Spartans South Midlands League.
Tickets for both games can be bought on the gates, or for Bedford Town match day and season tickets, you can visit: https://bedfordtownfc.ktckts.com/
