A dedicated supporters’ lottery has reached a major fundraising milestone after raising close to £75,000 for Bedford Town FC.
The Bedford Lottery Club, which runs independently from Bedford Town FC, now donates more than £1,000 tax-free each month directly to the Eagles.
Around 200 members purchase roughly 300 entries at £7 each month, funding monthly cash payouts for supporters alongside direct financial backing for the club.
The scheme operates on a 60-40 split, delivering £45,000 to the National League North club and returning almost £29,000 in cash prizes to members.
Growing support
The lottery faced early disruption during the coronavirus pandemic before becoming a successful, independent, supporter-led initiative.
Volunteer organiser Steve Fish explained, “It was originally the brainchild of Martin and Shelly Cannon, the Eagles marketing team, in late 2020.
“Unfortunately, while standing order entry deductions started, the draws never commenced because of the pandemic.
“I took this over as an external volunteer in April 2021, and at that time there was a single prize of £200 and the football club made around £50 each monthly draw.
“This was run via the football club’s account and made little progress.”
With the backing of club owner Jon Taylor, Fish took over operations through his business account on 1 December 2021 and launched a dedicated recruitment drive.
Fish highlighted, “On 1 December 2021 (with the agreement of Club owner Jon Taylor), I took over the lottery, running it from my business account, and I did a recruitment drive.
“The first fully externally run draw made £200 for the Eagles and paid a £200 prize. Since then, the lottery has gone from strength to strength.
“It now pays over £1,000 per month to the Eagles tax-free, and gives prizes of £500, £200 and £100 to members each month. This is derived from around 200 members making around 300 £7 entries each month.
“The lottery is registered with the local authority under lot 2187 and as per little lottery rules it makes no profit,” pointed out Fish.
“It’s all given away in prizes and donations to the football club.”
Doubling prizes
Organisers have now set their sights on doubling the club’s monthly contribution to £2,000 tax-free.
To expand membership, Fish is personally lending the organisation £800 to double the cash prize pot for the 1 January 2027 draw.
“For the 1 January 2027 draw, I have decided to lend the Lottery Club £800 so that the prize money can be doubled. I will pay £1000, £400, and £200 on that date.
“Members need to have completed, or have advanced paid, six months’ worth of lottery draws in order to qualify for the double-up payout.
“This is to prevent someone entering for one month and then leaving, which wouldn’t be fair on our regular members.”
This is to prevent someone entering for one month and then leaving, which wouldn’t be fair on our regular members.”
**However, they can still make a single monthly payment on the 1st of January and qualify for the usual £500, £200, £100.
“Part of the reasoning for this is a drive to increase the membership. I’ve laid down an aim of paying £2,000 per month tax-free to the Eagles,” said Fish.
Fan recognition
The grassroots lottery operation has earned local recognition across the Borough in recent seasons.
Fish received the Club Man of the Year award at Bedford Town FC at the end of the 2024-25 season and earned a nomination in the unsung hero category at the 2025 Bedford Sports and Physical Activity Awards.
“I have supported the club since I was nine, and I’m now retired and 61, so I was moved at the recognition. It’s my football club, and this is my town, and I want to do a bit of good before I ‘fit in an ashtray ‘, so to speak.
“But massive credit should go to our amazing supporters for getting involved in the lottery. It literally wouldn’t be possible without them.”
To learn more and enter the lottery, visit their Facebook page.
