Bedford Town are back in National League North ready for another fight to stay at step two, and today (Friday 10 July), they learnt of their opponents as the National League fixture lists were released.
The Eagles will come up against former players, Tyrone Marsh and Ellis Brown immediately, as Bedford Town make one of the shortest trips of their season, beginning the new campaign at Oxford City on Saturday, 8 August.
Two home games against Darlington (on 15 August) and Buxton (on Tuesday, 18 August) follow before another early journey to Southport on 22 August.
The August bank holiday weekend sees two games in three days, with Spennymoor Town visiting The Eyrie on Saturday 29 August, before a trip to AFC Telford on the final day of the month.
The early days of the league season will be punctuated by the early rounds of the FA Cup and FA Trophy. Bedford Town will enter the FA Cup at the second qualifying round, and the FA Trophy in the second round.
The festive fixtures see the Eagles travel to newly promoted, Harborough Town on Boxing Day before hosting King’s Lynn Town at The Eyrie two days later.
There will also be new teams visiting The Eyrie, including Brackley Town who the Eagles host on Saturday, 2 January, and much-maligned Morecambe. Both were relegated from the National League.
The aforementioned Harborough Town and Spalding United, both promoted from Southern League Premier Central, are also new faces.
The two other new teams in National League North are Hebburn Town, who Bedford Town will host on the final day on 24 April 2027, and Hednesford Town.
Both were promoted from the Northern Premier League.
Bedford Town will once again be aiming for survival at step two; a feat completed on the final day last season, when a 1-1 draw against Scarborough at The Eyrie was enough to stave off relegation.
Read: Bedford Town stay up after final day draw against Scarborough
All change
Since that April day, it’s been all change, not least in the dugout as the popular Lee Bircham has left the club and jumped over the Hertfordshire border to manage National League South club, Hemel Hempstead Town.
Up steps Bircham’s assistant, Harry Smart who takes over the number one role; the 28-year old promising fans an entertaining time, and “front-footed” football throughout the season.
Read: Bedford Town announce Harry Smart as new manager
There have also been a number of incomings and outgoings in the player department; the latest of which is midfielder, Troy Perez-Duah while the Eagles will hope a new look front line does the business after the key departures of Marsh and Ellis Brown.
Also joining in the last 24 hours is Southampton academy graduate, Sonnie Davis, who brings National League experience from loan spells with Eastleigh and Chelmsford City to The Eyrie.
Pre-season has already started, with Bedford Town playing out a 0-0 draw against National League club, Aldershot Town at The Eyrie on Tuesday night, but there are more friendlies to come before the big day on Saturday, 8 August.
Berkhamsted are up next tomorrow (11 July) at The Eyrie, before games against Biggleswade FC, Walton & Hersham, a Luton Town select XI and Kettering Town.
There is also the small matter of a Bedfordshire County Cup final against Real Bedford taking place in a fortnight’s time, which will step up the intensity ahead of another tough National League North campaign.
Bedford Town’s full National League North fixture list can be found here.
