Bedford Athletic
| Full name | Bedford Athletic Rugby Club |
|---|---|
| Union | RFU |
| Nickname(s) | Ath |
| Founded | 1908 |
| Ground(s) | Putnoe Woods (Capacity: 500) |
| Chairman | Michael Bowden |
| President | Richard Parish |
| Coach(es) | Ollie Joisce and Andy Philips |
| Captain(s) | Robert "Red" Watkins |
| League(s) | National League 3 Midlands |
| 2016-17 | 13th (relegated to Midlands Division 1 East) |
| Official website | |
| www |
|
Bedford Athletic Rugby Club is a rugby union team based in Bedford, in the county of Bedfordshire. The club currently play in the sixth tier of the English rugby union system, participating in Midlands One East. The club runs two senior sides, a veterans team and a colts team. There is currently no junior section at Bedford Athletic.
The Club was founded on 16 April 1908 and has used many grounds in the town. The first was in Kimbolton Road opposite the Park Hotel. The second in Bedford Park by the lake, the third behind the Fox & Hounds PH in Goldington Road, 'where a pond encroached on the pitch in which stood the corner flag'. Many other grounds were used but the move in 1924 to Newnham Lane, now known as Newnham Avenue, was a significant one for the club stayed there, apart from the war years, until 1970.
The Club has always been prepared to work hard to provide its facilities, which it has then invited the public to share. In 1933, during the depression, the then Secretary, Captain E.H.G.Chambers raised funds and under his guidance, some unemployed, mainly ex-servicemen levelled the whole of the area which now contains municipal playing fields and the Athletics Stadium.
It was because of these efforts that Bedford Corporation gave the club priority over the use of these grounds. During the war the changing room at the north-east corner of the field suffered badly and, until Murketts garage was built, a redundant fire service hut at the corner of Barkers Lane became the HQ. The club then moved the hut to where the fire station now stands.
The Council took pity on the Ath when the County Fire Service took over the site and the club were offered the lease on the land that it now occupies. This is green belt land adjacent to the town boundary. The Ath's nearest neighbours lived in a pair of cottages opposite where the Bluebell pub now stands. Undeterred by the fact that it was over a half a mile down a track with no services, club members set to and levelled, drained and seeded the pitches and like the 1930s members overcame all obstacles and eventually built the clubhouse seen today.
The facilities are frequently used by local societies, have been used as a play school, by Bedfordshire Schools, dog shows, archery, ladies rugby and most Sundays during the season, hundreds of boys use the ground for Mini Rugby. During the summer the club previously entered a side in the Beds & District Cricket League, which in recent years have been rather successful and in season 2006 the Ath won the Second Division. However new tenants are now in place as Bedford Tigers Rugby League share the ground over the summer months.
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Wikipedia