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 | Mike Cox |
| Captain(s) | Neil Paterson |
| League(s) | National League 3 Midlands |
| 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 fifth tier of the English rugby union system, participating in National League 3 Midlands. The club runs three senior sides, a veterans team and a colts team. There is currently no junior section at Bedford Athletic.[1]
History
Bedford Athletic Rugby Club was formed on 16 April 1908 and have played at a number of different venues throughout its hundred-year history, especially in the early years. The club now occupies a site on a leasehold from the County Fire Service.
The introduction of league rugby in 1987 saw the club placed in the East Midlands/Leicestershire league. The club gained promotion to Midlands 2 in 1991. The 1997–98 season saw the club win Midlands 2 without losing a single match as well as capturing the RFU Intermediate Cup. The following season they won Midlands 1 and found themselves playing in the national leagues for the first time. The 2003 restructure saw them pushed back into Midlands 1 and the club yo-yoed between National 3 North and Midlands 1 for the rest of the decade. The 2009 reorganisation saw the club placed in the new National 3 Midlands but the club was immediately relegated and has played in the sixth tier until last season, 2012–13 when they one promotion.[2]
Club Honours
- Midlands 2 champions: 1997-98
- RFU Intermediate Cup winners: 1997-98
- Midlands Division 1 champions (2 times): 1998-99, 2003–04
- Midlands Division 1 East champions: 2012-13