Bedford boasts two clubs in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup for the first time ever, with both Bedford Town and Real Bedford now just two games away from the main draw after 2-1 victories in the second qualifying round on Saturday (19 September).
They have now found out their opponents for the next round after Monday lunchtime’s draw, with Bedford Town potentially welcoming back a well-known face to The Eyrie.
Bedford Town will once again be on home turf, but must wait to find out their opponents after being drawn against either Lee Bircham’s Hemel Hempstead Town or Isthmian League Premier side, Wingate and Finchley.
Those two sides face each other in a replay tomorrow night (22 September) after a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
Should Wingate and Finchley win the replay, it will mean back-to-back trips to Meadow Lane as they face Real Bedford in the third qualifying round of the FA Trophy this Saturday (26 September).
Real Bedford have been drawn away from home again as they face a tricky tie against National League South club, Chesham United who are currently 13th in the league.
The FA Cup third qualifying round is due to take place on Saturday, 3 October with kick off at 3pm.
In the second qualifying round, goals from Louie Kudiabor and George Moncur helped Bedford Town battle back from a goal down against King’s Lynn at The Eyrie, winning 2-1.
Real were made to work hard against step five opposition in Harleston Town, but managed to win by the same scoreline thanks to goals from CJ Kiala and the in form, Conor Tee.
Read: Real Bedford squeeze past step five Harleston to progress in FA Cup
Read: Bedford Town earn landmark victory to advance in the FA Cup
Two games away from a potential Football League tie
It’s been 17 years since Bedford Town last qualified for this stage of the FA Cup, reaching the third qualifying round in 2009/10, where they lost 4-3 in a replay against Bury Town following a 1-1 away draw in Greater Manchester.
For Real Bedford, this is brand new territory, having never reached this stage of the competition before or since Peter McCormack’s takeover of the old Bedford FC in April 2022.
The third qualifying round does not include any new clubs, although should the Eagles and the Pirates get through their ties, they may face a step one National League club in the fourth qualifying round.
Football League clubs are then introduced in the First Round Proper.
And for Bedford Town fans, they’ll potentially be welcoming back a club legend, with former manager, Bircham leaving The Eyrie before the final game of last season, before moving back to hometown club, Hemel.
Despite reaching the National League South play-offs last term, Bircham’s Hemel have experienced a slower than expected start to this season, currently sitting 16th in National League South.
Attentions for Real briefly turn back to the Southern League, as they travel to Stourbridge on Tuesday night (22 September), looking to add to seven wins from seven league games.
Rob Sinclair’s side then return to cup action, welcoming Wingate and Finchley in the FA Trophy on Saturday.
Bedford Town resume National League North action, also on Saturday, welcoming league leaders Hereford to The Eyrie in what is a segregated, all-ticket fixture, before both sides try to make more local FA Cup history on Saturday, 3 October.
