Bedford Blues

The Bedford Blues Rugby Club is an English rugby union club from Bedford, who plays in the RFU Championship, the second highest English league.

History

The association was created in 1886 from the merger of Bedford and Bedford Swifts Rovers. 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. First of all the home games were played at two different places in Bedford. One of the places was called "The House of Industry" and was in the Goldington Road, where the Blues play even today. The other was the Midland Road Ground.

In 1905 the New Zealand All Blacks Bedford visited for the first time. In order that as many spectators could come to the game, schools and factories were closed for half a day. The All Blacks won by 41:0. In the same year the first grandstand at the Goldington Road was built, followed in 1910 a new clubhouse, which still stands today.

During the First World War the place of the British Army was used as a warehouse, so at this time no games could be played. In the 1920s, however, Bedford could return to normal active play operation. The late 1920s and early 1930s were numerous national player out of the club, at the same time the most successful period of the club.

1975 celebrated the Blues their biggest success by winning the Knock Out Cup against Rosslyn Park at Twickenham Stadium. On this success, the club was unable to build in the following years. With the introduction of the official league operation Bedford was placed in the second division. 1989 reached the summit in the first division, a moment later, however, they dismounted. 1996 was a professional rugby club from the amateur club.

At the end of the 1990s the club was plagued by financial problems. It was sold in 1999, which led to the dismissal of many employees. In the meantime, the dissolution of the association was even talking, but this could be prevented. In the 2000s, the Blues were able to qualify again for top places in the second division, the promotion to the English Premiership not succeeded so far, however.

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
2012–13 English Premiership (rugby union) England Barbarian FC New Zealand national rugby union team Bristol Rugby Cornish Pirates Leeds Carnegie Moseley Rugby Football Club
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