Real Bedford will host Wingate & Finchley in the third round qualifying of the FA Trophy on Saturday 26th September, as the Pirates enter the competition.

The draw gives us a home tie at the Ledger Stadium to begin our Trophy campaign, with a place in the first round proper at stake.

Match details

Competition: FA Trophy - Third Round Qualifying

Date: Saturday 26th September 2026

Kick-off: 3pm

Venue: The Ledger Stadium

Opposition Focus

Our visitors compete in the Isthmian League Premier Division and head into the competition with recent cup silverware to their name. The North London side lifted the Velocity Cup in 2026, beating Ramsgate 1-0 in front of more than 1,000 spectators. Their coaching team of Ahmet Rifat, Gavin King and Ola Williams had all played in the club’s previous triumph in the competition 15 years earlier.

That success followed a standout 2023/24 league campaign, when the Blues finished fourth with a club-record 76 points and scored 78 goals. Their promotion hopes ended with a narrow 1-0 defeat at local rivals Enfield Town in the play-off semi-final.

Rifat, who made more than 450 appearances for Wingate & Finchley before becoming manager in 2022, has been central to those achievements. Their recent record includes both a promotion challenge and a cup triumph, setting up an intriguing test for the Pirates.

More details will be shared ahead of the fixture.