Local boy Rene Howe returns home as Bedford Town secure coup

“I think this was always going to happen,” says Rene Howe, as the prolific striker re-joins Bedford Town a whole 14 years after leaving The Eyrie for a successful career in the Football League.

Howe, 33, moved to Kettering Town from the Eagles in 2006, scoring 25 league goals in his first season, securing a deal to Barry Fry’s Peterborough United.

After four years at London Road, he embarked on a career with eight different Football League clubs spanning more than a decade, appearing in over 250 league games throughout his career.

Howe has taken a step down in recent years, scoring 48 goals in 110 appearances in his second spell with Kettering Town, plus spells with Hendon and Walton Casuals before his arrival back where it all began.

Eagles owner Jon Taylor is delighted with his newest signing, adding to an already strong squad for the new season:

“Rene is a Bedford lad, and I am delighted he has chosen us to come back and play for once more. He has returned home to where the journey started.”

“Rene still has plenty to offer for us at this level, and we know he could play higher if he wanted to. He will be a force against any defence in the league.”

The goalscorer first arrived on the scene at Bedford Town as an Under 9 youth player, working his way up the ranks to the first team, before his football league journey.

Howe joins a raft of new signings at the Eyrie including Rob Sinclair, former MK Dons midfielder Will Summerfield and Connor Sansom; the goalkeeper also joining this week from Colney Heath.

Bedford Town have a keen eye on promotion this year, after slipping down to mid-table last season before the coronavirus crisis hit, voiding the season.

And with signings like Howe, along with Summerfield and Sinclair, Ducket and his team mean business with pre-season just kicking off.

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