Bedford Blues
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| Full name | Bedford Blues Rugby Club | ||
| Founded | 1886 | ||
| Stadion | Goldington Road | ||
| Places | 6,500 | ||
| Trainer | Mike Rayer | ||
| Homepage | bedfordrugby.co.uk | ||
| league | RFU Championship | ||
| 2016/17 | 7th place | ||
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The Bedford Blues Rugby Club is an English Rugby Union -Verein of Bedford , who in the RFU Championship play, the second highest English league.
history
The club was formed in 1886 from the merger of the Bedford Rovers and Bedford Swifts. In his first season he lost only one game. In the 1893/94 season, the Blues played against the French club Stade Français and the Barbarians and won both games. Initially the home games were played on two different courses in Bedford . One of the places was called "The House of Industry" and was on Goldington Road, where the blues still play today. The other was the Midland Road Ground.
In 1905, the New Zealand All Blacks visited Bedford for the first time. Schools and factories were closed for half a day so that as many spectators as possible could come to the game. The All Blacks won 41-0. In the same year the first grandstand was built on Goldington Road, followed by a new clubhouse in 1910, which is still standing today.
During the First World War , the place was used by the British Army as a warehouse, so that no games could be played during this time. In the 1920s, however, Bedford was able to play an active part again. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, numerous national players emerged from the club, which was also the club's most successful period to date.
In 1975 the Blues celebrated their greatest success to date by winning the Knock Out Cup against Rosslyn Park at Twickenham Stadium . The club was unable to build on this success in the following years. With the introduction of the official league operation, Bedford was classified in the second division. In 1989 they were promoted to the first division, but immediately afterwards they were relegated. In 1996 the amateur club became a professional rugby club.
At the end of the 1990s the club was plagued by financial problems. In 1999 it was sold, which led to the layoff of numerous employees. In the meantime, the dissolution of the association was even discussed, but this could be prevented. In the 2000s, the Blues were repeatedly able to qualify for top places in the second division, but so far they have not been promoted to the English Premiership .
Well-known former players
- Ben Alexander (Australia)
- Andy Gomarsall
- Norm Hadley (Canada)
- Scott Murray (Scotland)
- David Perry
- Gareth Rees (Canada)
- Budge Rogers
- Paul Sackey
- Rudolph Straeuli (South Africa)
- Rory Underwood