1st XV News

Despite an opening day defeat away to Nottingham last Friday, there will be no wallowing for the Bedford Blues squad who aim to use the result to spur them on in their first home game of the season against Rotherham Titans on Saturday.

The game in Nottingham saw the Blues beaten 19-10 however, forwards coach Martin Hynes says that there are plenty of positives to be drawn from the performance and it has given the players something to work on for the visit of Rotherham and the season ahead.

Sixways Stadium, home of Worcester Warriors, will host a Championship XV fixture against Canada on November 2, with the Championship squad led by Martin Haag and assisted by Kevin Maggs.

In a new addition to the fixture calendar, the Championship XV concept will be reignited following its 2012 success against the Maori All Blacks. The best XV from across the league will face Canada at Sixways Stadium in a showpiece game highlighting the talent on offer in the second tier, while providing a unique international experience for players and spectators alike.

James Pritchard’s testimonial year will kick-off with a black tie dinner in the Blues Marquee at Goldington Road on Friday October 10 in aid of NSPCC, which will be Skippy’s partnered charity for the year ahead.

The evening will be hosted by Bedford Blues former Club announcer Sam Roberts and will include a 4-course meal with guest speaker and former England international Gareth Chilcott.

Bedford Blues started their Championship campaign with a 19-10 defeat away at Nottingham on Friday night. A debut try in the first half from Tom Williams wasn’t enough for victory as the boot of Will Maisey kicked 14 points for Nottingham. However the first half was overshadowed by a horrific injury to Nathan Earle, with the 19-year-old winger having to be stretchered off with a suspected snapped Achilles.

James Pritchard kicked off for the Blues at Meadow Lane, with both teams looking to gain territory early on via a kicking game. Nottingham though won that battle early on and laid down a marker for how most of the match was to be contested.

At the Greene King IPA Championship launch on Wednesday afternoon, new Bedford Blues skipper Nick Fenton-Wells shared his view on last season and insists that his side can regain their top four status this season and push for promotion to the Premiership.

Bedford Blues fans can now buy advanced tickets for all Greene King IPA Championship and British & Irish Cup fixtures from their home computer or via their smartphone or tablet. 

The club have been updating the official website in recent weeks to make sure that ticket sales can be carried out quickly and easily in a mobile friendly manner with all the fixtures now online to choose from.

Bedford Blues Followers Association will be travelling to away games in style this season having chosen Blunham based coach operators Chiltern Travel as their provider. The Followers are also delighted to announce that fares for trips around the Championship will be considerably reduced on last season.

The first away trip of the new season on the Followers Coach is this Friday's visit to Nottingham. There is still time to book your space by calling Margaret Appleton on 01234 354708. The coach will leave Goldington Road at 4pm and fares for adults are £16 while it will cost £8 for juniors. Bookings are also being taken for the following matches:

The score line may not look pretty but Bedford Blues will have taken plenty of positives from their final pre-season friendly against a very strong Saracens team.

The Premiership and European giants ran in seven tries while the Blues only points came courtesy of a first half James Pritchard penalty but Mike Rayer’s men certainly didn’t roll over and gave the visitors plenty to think about during the 80 minutes. An impressive 3,126 people turned up to watch the now traditional friendly encounter between the two clubs and they were treated to a full throttle affair with both teams looking to impress their supporters while never giving an inch to the opposition.

Bedford Blues are proud to announce that their new kit for the 2014/15 Greene King IPA Championship season will be launched and worn by the players when they face Saracens on Friday night for the final pre-season fixture.
 
While the design of the new home and away kit had been kept a closely guarded secret, Blues fans will be happy to see the return of Cambridge and Oxford blue hoops. The new, more traditional looking jersey will be available to purchase on the night in the Club Shop from 6pm.
 

Bedford Blues fans will be back at Goldington Road on Saturday morning (August 30) as they carry out the fifth and final tidy-up session ahead of the 2014/15 Championship season. 

Following successful sessions members of Bedford Blues Followers Association will be at the ground from 8am until 1pm and are looking for other fans to join them as they continue in the clean up of Goldington Road.

As with previous sessions, gardening gloves are advisable and please bring any small garden tools that you may have that could be of use.