Getting to know our next FA Cup opposition, Bedfont Sports…
By Matty Paddock - 14/10/2021
Posted 5 years ago
A first ever meeting between Harriers and Bedfont Sports takes place in the Emirates FA Cup this weekend as the lure First Round proper looms large for both teams.
Harriers haven’t ventured past this stage of the world’s most famous competition since 2017, while Bedfont would do so for the first time in their history with a victory at the weekend.
While minds must stay firmly focused on the task in hand for both sides, it’s hard not to have in mind the fact that, come Saturday night, one or both of the names will be in the hat for the First Round proper, where EFL sides from League 1 and 2 enter.
With so much at stake, it’s a huge game – yet the Sports remain an unknown quantity for many, as a new club who’ve made huge strides in their short history so far.
To find out more, Shane Wilkinson dives into Five Things to Know for Bedfont Sports…
WHO ARE THEY?
Bedfont Sports Club were founded in 2002 out of the successful Bedfont Sunday side when David and Terry Reader decided it was time to progress into Saturday football. To make this transition, they enlisted the help of the local council who enabled them to take out a lease on the nearby Halton Road Recreation Ground, which was derelict at the time. The Readers themselves were at the centre of the necessary refurbishments, which included the revamping of the bar, clubhouse and changing facilities, either carrying it out themselves or overseeing the work.
The Eagles were first placed into the Hounslow & District League for two seasons before joining the Middlesex County League which was a Step 5 feeder league. In 2004/05, they earned promotion into the Middlesex County Football League Premier Division, where they remained until the 2008/09 season, when they won promotion to the Combined Counties Reserve Division. Sports spent three seasons at this level before finishing as runners up to earn promotion to the Combined Counties Premier Division, in which they experienced sustained progression in the league before finally earning promotion to the Isthmian League Division One Southern Central, again as runners up. In their only completed campaign to date, they finished 12th.
WHERE ARE THEY?
Bedfont Sports play at the Bedfont Recreation Ground, a multi-purpose facility in the shadow of Heathrow Airport. With a 3G pitch that was installed in 2010-11, the complex plays host to 22 junior teams, two U18 youth teams, three Sunday teams as well as local rugby, boxing, kickboxing and darts teams.
Throughout their short history, Bedfont have secured £2 million worth of funding which has enabled them to develop their ground to the standard we see today as well as installing training and changing facilities. These developments allowed The Eagles to host games in the 2018 CONIFA World Football Cup, which is a tournament for “states, minorities, stateless peoples and regions unaffiliated with FIFA.”
HOW HAVE THEY GOT HERE?
The Eagles are currently in the midst of a club record run in the FA Cup, breaking the record they set last season when they reached the Third Qualifying Round before being dumped out by Canvey Island.
This is their 11th campaign in the famous competition and, like our previous opponents Sporting Khalsa and Ware, had to progress through the Preliminary Round back in August. Goals from Jordan Esprit, Darryl Sanders and Kevin Diomande helped them to beat Herne Bay and secure their safe progression to the First Qualifying Round where they faced a local derby against Spellthorne Sports. Pegged back with three minutes to play in the first fixture, Bedfont faced no such issues in the replay as Lewis Flatman’s double set up a dream tie with National League South side Dulwich Hamlet in the Second Qualifying Round. To make matters even tougher, Sports were drawn away but enjoyed excellent support, backed by over a hundred supporters at Champion Hill. Joe Jackson’s goal after 31 minutes sparked wild scenes in the stands and despite wave after wave of Hamlet pressure, The Eagles managed to hold on for a historic win and a date with Sholing.
151 spectators saw a thrilling 3-3 draw where Sports surrendered a comfortable three-goal first half lead. Fortunately for Paul Johnson’s men though, the replay on the South Coast presented no such drama, as goals from Sanders and Ricky Wellard earned them an historic victory and the right to play Harriers.
HOW ARE THEY GETTING ON IN THE LEAGUE?
Beginning the season with a 2-1 home win over Chipstead, Bedfont opened up with two victories and a draw from their first three games, defeating Ashford Town (Middlesex) before being held to a 1-1 draw by Uxbridge.
Their first league defeat came in what was their last league game on September 11th as Bracknell Town came out 2-1 victors. Currently sitting 11th, Sports have as many as four games in hand on their league rivals due to their exploits in the FA Cup, so their current position could be seen as a bit of a misnomer. Despite having only played four league games, Esprit and Sanders both have two goals each whilst three more players have a single goal to their name.
PLAYERS PAST AND PRESENT
Perhaps the first name to jump out to Harriers fans when they look at the Bedfont Sports squad is Ricky Wellard, the former AFC Wimbledon midfielder who was part of The Dons’ promotion into the EFL back in 2011. Now 33, he was chased by manager Paul Johnson for some time before finally agreeing to join. He has two goals to his name so far, both in the FA Cup.
There are seven players in their squad who have progressed through either their Junior Eagles system or the U18s, two of whom made their first team debuts at 16. Captain Joe Jackson is still only 22 and made his youth team debut at 15 as did Darryl Sanders, who has six goals in all competitions to date.
Cardiff City’s Cieron Brown began his career at the Bedfont Recreation Ground, making 34 appearances in the 2015-16 Combined Counties Premier Division campaign with his standout performances earning him a move to then National League South side Wealdstone. After impressing for The Stones, Brown caught the attention of Cardiff City who signed him following a successful trial. The 23-year-old has had a couple of loan spells north of the border with Livingston and is a full Northern Irish international, making his debut in September 2019 in a friendly against Luxembourg. He is still firmly in the international picture today, playing in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Switzerland before being benched for Tuesday’s narrow loss to Bulgaria.
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