Bedford Hockey Club Ladies 1st XI have been crowned champions of the East Women’s Premier Division after their win against St Albans 2nd XI at Chester Road on Saturday (21 March).
Goals from Alex Day, Ellie Scott and a now customary brace from Kate Costin secured a 4-2 victory for Bedford – their 18th of the league season – to cap a superb campaign ahead of a return to National League competition next year.
Whilst their promotion was already sealed several weeks ago, they continued to push to end on a high, with Saturday’s fixture against St Albans being played out in front of a home crowd.
The squad left the pitch to the elation of having the East Women’s Premier Division trophy handed to them, and to each player receiving a champion’s medal.
The Men’s 1st XI came frustratingly close to a draw away to Bishop’s Stortford, but ultimately lost 5-4, finishing in ninth spot.
The match concludes a season that has seen the squad welcome a large number of youth players, all of whom have demonstrated phenomenal talent, and gives the prospect of great success next season.
A 3-2 win over Bishop’s Stortford finished the Ladies’ 2nd XI’s league run, with goals by Harriot Potter and Bella Holt helping the team to a fifth place finish, whilst it was sixth place for the men after a 4-2 loss to Havering.
Bedford’s goals were scored by Matthew Abery and Simba Chigwada.
There was a win for the Ladies’ 3rd XI, with both goals in the 2-0 victory over Saffron Walden coming off the stick of Emma (Bea) Burak, seeing the squad finish a creditable fourth in the table.
The Men’s match was conceded by their Potters Bar opposition and, whilst Bedford end at the lower end of the table, they remain in the division going into next season.
There will be a sigh of relief for the Ladies’ 4th XI that their season has drawn to a close, although they did well to hold Bishop’s Stortford to 2-0 in the final fixture. The team head down a division now and will regroup after the summer break anticipating success next season.
The Men’s 4th XI suffered a brutal 7-1 loss against top of the table Blueharts, but still finished in fifth spot.
It was a 3-2 loss for the Ladies’ 5th XI against St Albans, but the team’s ninth place finish keeps them safe in the same division going forward.
After an incredible season, and despite ending with a 3-1 loss away to second in the table Hertford, the Men’s 5th XI will be heading up a division in the 2026-27 season, finishing top of the table, six points ahead of their Hertford nemesis.
Goals from Lucy Wilson, Di Graham and Susan Leach gave the Ladies’ 6th XI a 3-2 win over West Herts and sees them end in a very respectable sixth place.
Dan Sims, with a goal from open play 49 minutes into the Men’s 6th XI game, gave Bedford the points against St Albans and closes their season with them placed eighth.
The Ladies’ 7th XI are a named development team within their division, which combines development and non-development teams.
Whilst they lost 5-1 in their final game, against non-development team, Rickmansworth, they end a very successful season top of the development teams, having welcomed several juniors transitioning to adult play this year.
The Men’s 7th XI ended 3-2 down to Harpenden. There is still a probability of promotion for Bedford, but it goes down to the wire, as third place Letchworth still have two outstanding matches to play.
The new season begins in September, with pre-season training kicking off in August.
New players are always very welcome, with a level of play for all abilities, across the club’s seven Men’s and seven Women’s squads. The club also has a thriving Junior section from Under 8s and upwards.
More information can be found at www.bedfordhockeyclub.com.
Words by Jean Fitch
