The Life Behind the Bedford Blues-00-7055

The world of rugby is a tough one where ears are ripped, blood pours from wounds and backs are crumpled under the weight of burly players but it attracts many avid supporters. It is the second most popular sport in England and in spite of so much violence on the pitch; the game is often more beautiful to watch than the self-proclaimed beautiful game itself.

The Birth of the Blues

The Bedford Blues were founded in 1886 and since then the team has seen many losses and wins, cup finals and records and as rugby became more popular across England; the number of teams being established began to grow. Bedfordshire rugby was a major grower in the sport alongside the likes of Cambridge, Oxford and London, and the county seat of Bedford itself was home to two teams; the Swifts and the Rovers.

It would be less than 10 years before these two teams decided to amalgamate and become Bedford RUFC. The following years were great for Bedfordshire rugby and the Bedford Blues. Their first season was a huge success as they lost just one game. The second season was to be equal to their first, again only losing once to a combined London XV.

It was around the latter part of the 19th century when winger H M Morris would go into the record book for the highest try-scoring tally in one season with 38; a record that still stands today.

Early 20th Century

Not long before the turn of the century the team had cemented their home at Goldington Road. Not content with matches against some of the best teams from across Europe, they now envisaged themselves as world beating teams and were included on the British tour of the New Zealand All Blacks.

The club continued to grow stronger over the coming years but was disrupted by WWI and WWII, when the army took over their ground as a camp. Between the two wars, a new pavilion was built and it was then considered to be one of the best in the country and is still in use today.

The 1960s Onwards

The 1960s saw the team do well and contain three regular England players; two of them captaining their country. In the 1969-70 season, the Bedford Blues won the Sunday Telegraph English-Welsh Rugby Table but this was to be eclipsed just five years later when they beat Rosslyn Park 28-12 at the final of the Knockout Cup held at Twickenham. A record crowd of almost 18,000 attended the match to watch the Blues of Bedford romp home.

Before the start of 1996-97 season began, the club took the step forward to become a professional team, effectively meaning the players only job was now rugby. Further investment saw world-famous names come into the setup as well many promising youth players.

The team gained promotion at the second attempt and began playing in the Allied Dunbar Premiership. This was not how it was to stay and just two seasons later amidst financial issues with the owners, the club was relegated back into the second tier. During this time many players left for more stable opportunities but a loyal core of faithful players stayed to support the Bedfordshire rugby team.

The Bedford Blues have continued in the second tier for the past 10 years; their best place being second. In this time they have reached two finals of cup competitions sponsored by Powergen, walking away with the shield in 2005 and runners up the next season. The coming years look set to bring more success to the already established team.