77 days after Real Bedford’s final day victory against Thame United in April 2025, the Pirates returned to action with a pre-season friendly against Corby Town on Saturday 12th July.

In May and June, Rob Sinclair spent time refining his squad in preparation for the Southern League Premier Central, the third step of the non-league pyramid. Jack Davies, Ben Weyman, Josh Allen, Sam Cartwright and Conor Tee linked up with the squad in June, arriving with a wealth of experience in non-league, including at steps two and three.

The Pirates played six pre-season games in July and August. Here are the key talking points of pre-season ahead of our opener against Spalding United on 9th August.

New Signings Impress

All five new signings have made an instant impact since joining the club this summer. Davies was the first to join the club and the centre-back has featured in all six pre-season games, impressing with his physicality and ability on the ball.

Sam Cartwright was the second of two centre-backs to arrive in June. The former Spalding defender impressively scored three during pre-season, including strikes against Corby and a brace against St Albans.

Meanwhile, Weyman, Allen and Tee have all added to the Pirates’ attacking spark, scoring nine goals between them. Tee scored the winner against both Hitchin Town and Hampton & Richmond Borough.

Rob Sinclair Signs a Two-Year Contract

On 22nd June, Real Bedford announced that Sinclair had signed a two-year contract with the club. The former Forest Green Rovers and Stevenage midfielder has been a revelation since he was appointed in May 2022, winning three league titles and losing only six league matches.

Six Wins Out of Six

The Pirates have won all six of their pre-season clashes, including wins against step two Hampton & Richmond Borough and St Albans City, who were relegated to step three for the first time since 2014 last season.

The full list of results can be found below:

· Real Bedford 4-1 Corby Town

· AFC Welwyn 1-7 Real Bedford

· Hitchin Town 0-1 Real Bedford

· Real Bedford 2-1 Hampton & Richmond Borough

· Hertford Town 2-4 Real Bedford

· Real Bedford 4-2 St Albans City

School Grant Programme Announced

Off the pitch, Chairman Peter McCormack has continued to highlight his commitment to growing Bedford and helping the town reach its full potential. On 1st July 2025, we announced that Real Bedford will provide a grant of £25,000 to 50 local schools across Bedford, with each school receiving £500 to spend on football equipment.

The grant programme was an extension to the Bedford Future Fund, which has been a huge success since launching in 2024, helping talented young sportsmen and women, including Valentino Alessi and Laura Allen, to pursue their careers in electric karting and judo, respectively.

Opening Match Against Spalding – Get Your Tickets Now

Our first game at tier three sees us host Spalding United on Saturday 9th August. You can get your tickets now here and can view the full fixture list here.

Win a signed Real bedford home shirt

Grab an advanced ticket for our opening league match against Spalding United and you’ll be entered into a draw to win a signed Real Bedford home shirt.