As the new FA WPL gets under way, there is a new member among its ranks.
After winning promotion from the Eastern Region Women’s Football League, Bedford Ladies are now competing in the South East Division One of the FA Women’s Premier League – while their second string will also turn out in Reserve Southern Division.
So in order to get acquainted with the newcomers, below is everything you need to know about the league’s latest competitors.
And if you are local to the club, you may even like to get involved yourself...
When was the club founded?
Bedford Ladies and Girls Football Club was founded in 1996 as part of Kempston West End FC.
With the decision to focus specifically on the needs of girls football, they would later become Bedford and District Girls Football Club – and most recently they shortened the name to Bedford Ladies and Girls Football Club.
How often do they train?
Bedford train twice weekly, with the focus not only on having fun but also in developing skill, promoting a healthy lifestyle, improving fitness and well-being.
The club encourages parents to get involved and this gives the Club a unique family atmosphere.
The older girls act as mentors to the younger ones and to take up coaching and refereeing and to run teams themselves.
And where and when does that take place?
The club trains for about ten months each year, with a break in June and first two weeks of July.
Training is on a Monday and Thursday from 6-7pm for all girls U13, and 6.30-8pm for girls 14 and over at the following venues.
Winter Training is in Bedford - September to April
Mondays - At Dame Alice/Bedford High School, Cardington Road Bedford MK42 0BT
Thursdays – Bedford Academy, Mile Road, Bedford, MK42 9TR
Summer Training is in Biddenham - April to September
Allen Park, Ford End Road, Queens Park, Bedford MK40 4HL.
How many teams to you have and when do they play?
The club is the longest established, largest and most successful all female football club in Bedfordshire.
For 2014-15 they will run U10s, U11s, U13s, U15s, U16 and U18s.
They also have a reserve and first team – who are of course competing in the FA WPL for the first time.
Matches take place on Sundays and are usually at 2pm, while for other teams matches are played mostly on Saturdays, usually in the morning.
Who runs the club?
Bedford Ladies is run by volunteer club officials, coaches and parent helpers. They are a Charter Standard Development Club all the staff undertake the Safeguarding programme, First Aid and are CRB/DBS checked.
What silverware has the club won?
Quite a few. The club has a history of success in the Bedfordshire area - here are a few of their most recent triumphs...
2012-2013
U11 Beds & Herts Women's & Girls' Football League Cup runners-up
U13 Bucks Girls' Football League winners
U13 Bucks Girls' Football League Cup winners
U15 Beds & Herts Women's & Girls' Football League runners-up
U16 Home Counties League runners-up
Reserves Beds & Herts Women's & Girls' Football League Division One League Cup runners-up
Ladies ERWFL Premier Division League Cup runners-up
Ladies Beds FA Women's County Cup runners-up
2013-2014
U10 Beds & Herts Women's & Girls' Football League Shield winners
U12 Beds & Herts Women's & Girls' Football League Cup winners
U14 Bucks Girls' Football League runners-up
U14 Bucks Girls' Football League Cup semi finalists
U16 Beds & Herts Women's & Girls' Football League runners-up
U16 Beds & Herts Women's & Girls' Football League Cup runners-up
U16 Beds FA Senior Cup semi-finalists
Reserves Beds & Herts Women's & Girls' Football League Division One League Cup semi-finalists
Ladies Beds FA Women's County Cup winners
Winners of the Eastern Region Women's Football League
Who should people contact if they want to know more about Bedford Ladies?
jill@bedfordladies-girlsfc.org
Website: www.bedfordladies-girlsfc.org
Twitter: @bedfordladiesfc
Ground: Wootton Blue Cross, Bedford Road, Woottoon, MK43 9JT
Click here to see a map of the group.
Colours: Shirts Blue/Black, Shorts Black, Socks Black
