Match Preview: Loughborough Lightning vs Real Bedford Women
Real Bedford Women play their last pre-season match on Sunday 10th August. This time, they travel to Loughborough Lightning, who will be the second tier three opponent they have faced in preparation for the FAWNL Southern Premier Division campaign.
Charlie Bill’s side have had a mixed pre-season, beating AFC Sudbury and Cambridge United, but also suffering defeats to Fulham and Derby County. With the league opener against AFC Wimbledon only a week away, the Pirates will be keen to secure a positive result.
The match against Loughborough Lightning will be played at the Loughborough University Stadium and will kick-off at 2:00pm.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of Sunday’s game.
Match Details
Date: Sunday 10th August
Venue: Loughborough University Stadium, Oakwood Dr, Loughborough LE11 3QF.
Kick-Off: 2:00pm
Tickets
Entry is free for both home and away supporters on Sunday.
How to Get to the Loughborough University Stadium
Supporters should take the A6 north, which goes through Market Harborough and Leicester, before taking the A512 towards Loughborough University. You can reach the university via the East entrance on Epinal Way or via the West entrance on Ashby Road.
Typically, the best place to park at the university for matches at the stadium is the Holywell car park, which can be accessed via the West entrance. This car park is a five to 10-minute walk to the stadium and will likely cost a small charge, depending on the duration.
The Opposition
After coming close to promotion to step three in the 2023/24 season, Lightning won the FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands title in the 2024/25 campaign without losing a match. They scored 85 goals and conceded only 10, winning 19 out of their 22 league matches.
Jessica Collyer, Zynia Delglyn and Lauren Purchase were the three top goalscorers for Lightning last season, grabbing 18, 16 and 14 goals in all competitions, respectively.
The upcoming season will see them compete in the FAWNL Northern Premier Division, alongside the likes of Derby, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Stoke City.
Follow the Match on Social Media
If you can’t make the game, you can follow the match via our official X and Instagram accounts. A match report will also be posted on the club website, detailing the key moments in the game.
Follow @RBFCWomen on X and @realbedfordwomen on Instagram.
AFC Wimbledon Opener a Week Away
Our first game at tier three sees us travel to AFC Wimbledon on Sunday 17th August. You can view the full fixture list, including cup games, here.
You can also purchase tickets for our first home league game against Cheltenham Town on Sunday 24th August here.
