Real Bedford begin their FA Trophy campaign on Saturday 26th September as Wingate & Finchley visit the Ledger Stadium for a third round qualifying tie.

A place in the first round proper is at stake as the Pirates turn their attention to another cup competition, following Saturday’s 2-1 FA Cup victory away at Harleston Town. With home advantage, Real Bedford will be looking to give supporters another cup result to celebrate.

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MATCH DETAILS

Competition: FA Trophy - Third Round Qualifying

Date: Saturday 26th September 2026

Kick-Off: 3pm

Venue: Ledger Stadium, McMullen Park, Meadow Lane, Bedford, MK44 3LW

TICKETS

Please note: this is a cup fixture, and season tickets are not valid for this match.

Tickets are available to purchase online via the club website here. Tickets are cheaper when bought in advance, so secure yours now and save.

Advance Prices:

• Adult: £12
• Concession (60+): £7
• Youth (13-17): £4
• Child (Under 12): £2

Matchday Prices:

• Adult: £14
• Concession (60+): £9
• Youth (13-17): £6
• Child (Under 12): £3

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OPPOSITION FOCUS

Wingate & Finchley compete in the Isthmian League Premier Division, at Step 3 of the National League System and the seventh tier of English football. That puts the North London club at the same level as the Pirates.

The Blues currently sit 12th, with 11 points from their opening eight league matches. Three wins, two draws and three defeats reflect a mixed start, although their most recent league outing produced a dramatic 4-3 victory away at Aveley. That result provided an immediate response to a 4-1 defeat at Welling United two days earlier. 

Their other league victories have come against Dulwich Hamlet and Chatham Town, while they have also shown resilience in the FA Cup. After overcoming Felixstowe & Walton United in a replay, Wingate secured a 1-1 draw at Step 2 Hemel Hempstead Town on Saturday, with a 2-1 win for Wingate & Finchley in the replay.

The present club was formed in 1991 through the merger of Wingate and Finchley, with its roots stretching back to Finchley’s foundation in 1874. 

One of the club’s standout seasons came in 2010/11, when promotion to the Isthmian Premier Division formed part of a treble alongside the League Cup and London Senior Cup. More recently, the Blues finished fourth in 2023/24 with a club-record 76 points in the Isthmian Premier Division before losing narrowly to Enfield Town in the play-off semi-final.

They added further silverware in 2026, beating Ramsgate 1-0 to lift the Velocity Cup. The coaching team behind that success, Ahmet Rifat, Gavin King and Ola Williams, had all played in the club’s previous triumph in the competition 15 years earlier. 

ABOUT THE FA TROPHY

The FA Trophy is the national knockout competition for clubs at Steps 1-4 of the National League System, offering teams across non-league football the opportunity to compete for a place in the final, held at Wembley Stadium.

The Pirates enter at the third round qualifying stage, with Saturday’s winners progressing to the first round proper, scheduled for Saturday 24th October.

If the scores are level after 90 minutes, the tie will go straight to a penalty shoot-out. There is no extra time or replay, so a winner will be decided at the Ledger Stadium on the day. 

GETTING TO THE LEDGER STADIUM

Fans travelling via the M1 should leave the motorway at Junction 13 before joining the A421 Bedford Bypass. Continue on the A421 before taking the A603 Sandy exit. The Ledger Stadium is approximately 200 yards on the left-hand side of Meadow Lane. Follow the Real Bedford signage upon turning onto Meadow Lane. Sat Nav: MK44 3LW

PARKING

Limited parking is available immediately before the Ledger Stadium on the left-hand side. An overflow car park is also available immediately on the right as you enter Meadow Lane. Supporters are encouraged to arrive early or travel together where possible.

FOOD & DRINK

Our food and drink outlets will be open all day, serving a range of hot food, snacks and refreshments. Fans can also enjoy beers from our partners at BrewPoint, including Supernova Helles Lager, Genesis Stout, Foghorn Hazy Session IPA, Lodestar Pacific Pale Ale, and much more.

The popular Pirate Burger will be available, alongside a selection of hot and cold food, from our food kiosk, which will be firing up throughout the afternoon, serving all your favourites including burgers, hot dogs and more.

REAL COFFEE CART

The Real Coffee Cart will be open opposite the pitch, serving a wide range of freshly prepared coffees, teas and hot drinks from our very own Real Coffee.

CLUB SHOP

The Real Bedford Club Shop will be open, throughout the afternoon. Supporters can purchase: 2026/27 replica kits, Hoodies & t-shirts, Accessories, Official club merchandise and much more.

ACCESSIBILITY

Two disabled parking bays are available outside the stadium. A designated accessible viewing area is located at the front of the main stand. For any accessibility enquiries, please contact: hello@realbedford.com

LIVE STREAM

This fixture will be livestreamed for international supporters. Watch on PirateTV.

FOLLOW THE MATCH

Can’t make it to the Ledger Stadium? You can follow the action live via our X account, with key match updates throughout the afternoon. Half-time and full-time updates will also be shared across all our social media channels.

A full match report will be available on the website shortly after the final whistle, while match highlights will be uploaded to our YouTube channel in the days following the fixture.

Follow @realbedford on X and Instagram.