Bedford Town have announced former Real Bedford player, Ben Weyman as their latest signing on a one-year deal as the Eagles begin to build a team they hope will be capable of staying in National League North.
Weyman, 23, was part of the last season’s Real Bedford squad that lost in the Southern League play-off final, but the central midfielder will now be playing at step two after making the short hop across the Meadow Lane fence as Harry Smart’s latest signing.
Having spent eight years progressing through the academy system at Luton Town, Weyman has since represented Hertford Town, AFC Dunstable and Royston Town, before moving to Real Bedford at the beginning of last season.
Speaking to Bedford Town’s media team, Weyman said: “Buzzing to have joined Bedford Town, can’t wait to meet the lads and get started and show the fans what I can bring to the team”.
A final year for Greg Taylor
One of Bedford’s Town retained players from last season is Greg Taylor, who plans to retire from football at the end of the 2026/27 season, completing a full circle in the game.
After a storied Football League career that saw him play for clubs such as Luton Town, Northampton Town and making over 300 appearances across a ten-year spell for Cambridge, 36-year old Taylor is ending a fantastic career at the place where it all started as a nine-year old.
“I’m really pleased to be signing for the club for next season and I’m looking forward to working with Harry as the new manager”, said Taylor.
“This is going to be my retirement season so I will be trying to enjoy every minute of it, and I couldn’t think of a better place to finish my career than at the club I started at when I was nine years old.”
Other new faces
Amongst the other new signings are young players taking a step up to step two for the first time; a hunger that new manager, Harry Smart hopes will help drive the team to success next season.
The first brand new name to be announced through the gates of The Eyrie was former Hertford Town attacker, Noah Mosanya on a one-year deal; a man Bedford Town describe as, “blessed with pace, directness and an eye for goal”.
With new manager, Smart quoted as saying he wants to play “front-footed football”, Mosanya is perhaps a man who fits that bill perfectly.
Read: Bedford Town announce Harry Smart as new manager
Scoring 22 goals and registering 16 assists across 45 appearances for Hertford Town last season, Smart will hope the 20-year old can bring his form from step four up to the more challenging climates of step two.
Another attacker who has joined the club is Eno Nto, who joins Bedford Town from the uniquely named Northern Irish club, Harland and Wolff Welders but is better known on these shores from time at fellow National League North side, Hereford.
“I’m really excited to be a Bedford Town player this season”, said Nto, speaking to the Bedford Town media team.
“I’m grateful to Harry and the club for the opportunity. I know how much the club means to the town and I’m ready to give all my effort and qualities to help kick on from last season”.
Former St Ives Town and Banbury United midfielder, 22-year old Peter Abimbola is also a new face, while a number of last season’s players have also committed to the new campaign.
Those include centre back, Ryan Doherty and Josh Castiglione, who ex-manager Lee Bircham pointed to as one of the big differences as Bedford Town stayed at step two last season.
Junior Gyamfi, Ryan Cole and Joe Payne are also amongst the stayers, as the spine of last season’s side remains, while Smart’s backroom team continues to grow with the addition of first team coach, James Petty who joins after nine years at Biggleswade FC.
Much-loved physio, Jazzy Dolby is also staying at the club, committing to life in the Eagles’ medical department for a seventh year.
The departures
As ever in the realm of non-league football, players also leave.
Long-serving players, Carl Mensah and Lewis Green have moved on to pastures new; the former joining Peterborough Sports as their new captain.
Left back, Sam Brown and attacker, Jevani Brown have also left Bedford Town, with Jevani joining up with Mensah at the recently relegated Turbines.
They join the already departed Tyrone Marsh, who left Bedford Town to join Oxford City earlier in May, while loanee goalkeeper, Nathan Ashmore won’t be coming back for a fourth loan spell after joining Dagenham and Redbridge from parent club, Boreham Wood.
Read: Marsh and Ashmore leave Bedford Town in double hammer blow to the Eagles
More comings and goings will surely take place, but attention now turns to the pre-season schedule that is on the horizon.
Two confirmed opponents are old adversaries, Berkhamsted who continue to do well at step three, while a visit to Kettering Town is also penned in.
Southern League Premier South champions, Walton and Hersham also visit The Eyrie on Saturday, 18 July ahead of the Bedfordshire Senior Cup final against Weyman’s old club, Real Bedford the following Friday (24 July).
Read: Bedfordshire Senior Cup Final to be played in July at The Eyrie
This article was updated at 15:30 on Friday, 5 June to amend details of players moving between Bedford Town FC and Real Bedford FC.
