1970/1 to 1972/3

The Eagles went down 0-2 to Chelmsford at New Writtle Street on 17 August 1970, their second game of the season. Here new goalkeeper George Heyes punches clear from the home forwards watched by Brian Etheridge (left) and Jackie Scurr.

Roger Figg about to beat keeper Frank Smith to hit the only goal against Romford at The Eyrie on 28 November 1970

A scene from Bedford's 3-0 defeat of Kettering at Rockingham Road on 28 December 1970, where two points on a snow-covered pitch put them into fourth position in the Premier division at the turn of the year. Bedford players are Roger Barron (second from left), David Skinn, Jackie Scurr (background), and David Lawson. Only 750 people watched a fixture that once attracted seven or eight thousand.

Another scene from the 3-0 win against Kettering at Rockingham Road on 28 December 1970, with Roger Barron going for a high ball. Also in view are Norman Cooley (left) and David Lawson

In the first qualifying round of the FA Cup the Eagles drew 2-2 at Banbury on 18 September 1971, before scraping through the replay 1-0 after extra time. Here Steve Byrne (far right) is about to take advantage of a mishit clearance by home centre half Haynes to score Bedford's first goal.

In the second qualifying round on 9 October 1971 Bedford were paired with Biggleswade for the first time since 1955. Here Roger Figg (left) scores one of his two goals in Bedford's 3-0 win, with Barry Fry on hand to take advantage of any clearance by Waders' keeper McKenzie. In the next round Bedford went down to Witney of the Hellenic League, soon followed by manager Alan Wright's departure.

Another derby against Kettering, this time in the second round of the League Cup at The Eyrie on 2 December 1971, produced a 1-1 draw. Here Norman Cooley attacks a cross but Kettering's Reed gets in a clearing header. The Eagles won the replay 2-1 but eventually went out to Barnet in the semi-final

With Reg Smith returning as manager things stablised after Wright's departure but the FA Trophy defeat by Western League side Dorchester on 12 February 1972 ended hopes of Wembley for another season. Here John Henderson, a locally based player who had two spells with the club in the 70s, gets in a diving header without success

Officially Bedford scrapped their reserves after the 1970/1 season, when they withdrew from the Metropolitan League, but a team suspiciously called Bedford Eaglets appeared in the United Counties League Division Two despite George Senior's claim that they were a separate club. The League took a different view and they were not promoted to the First Division, which was only open to first teams, despite finishing second in their division. This team beat Kettering Park Wanderers on 22 February 1972. Back row, left to right: Terry Chalk (team manager), Andy Lloyd, David Parratt, B Clark, Jimmy Campbell, Ray Silous, Neil Rodney, Martin Bartlett (physio). Front: Dai Hunt, David Earl, G Griffiths, Jim O'Keefe, Bobby Wright. All these players apart from Clark and Griffiths made at least one competitive first team appearance, and Parratt, Campbell, Silous, Rodney and Earl were all regulars at one time or another.

This first team group dates from early in 1972/3. Back, left to right:

Andy Lloyd, David Skinn, Norman Cooley, Alan Alexander, Neil Townsend, Charlie Sorbie, Brian Garvey (player-manager), Sid Fettes (phsyio); (front) Roly Horrey, Ray Silous, Jackie Scurr, Jim Baillie, Ian Boyd.

Neil Townsend (right), watched by Davd Skinn (left), takes on Ipswich striker Mick Hill in a 1-1 draw against the then First Division club in a pre-season friendly at The Eyrie on 2 August 1972. Signed by Brian Garvey soon after he took over on loan from Northampton, Townsend impressed and stayed the whole season, but moved to Southend a year later without joining the Eagles permanently.

Chairman George Senior helps Miss Bedford, 1972 (Susan Talbot) to draw the winning ticket in a raffle at the pre-season friendly against Ipswich at the start of 1972/3. It was actually a "Survival Draw", launched as the club struggled to remain afloat.

David Parratt climbs above his Romford opponent in the 1-0 defeat of the Essex club at the Eyrie on 28 October 1972, with George Cleary waiting for any mistakes

Norman Cooley in an aerial duel with Ramsgate defender Priestely in the 1-1 draw at the Kent club's ground on 25 November 1972. David Skinn is in the left distance.

On 20 January 1973 Bedford beat Dover 2-1 in the second round of the FA Trophy, and here Dover’s keeper Gadsby struggles with an Eagles attack involving David Skinn (left) and Charlie Sorbie, with back to camera. After beating Wimbledon 3-1 in the next round Bedford went out 1-4 at Stafford

George Cleary (second from right) scores one of his two goals that beat Yeovil at the Huish on 24 February 1973. He would play only four more times and score once more before his move to Kettering for a £2,000 fee, although he did return for a season in 1979/80. His 148 goals in all competitions made him the leading scorer in the old club’s SL years.

This interesting "comic strip" coaching lesson featuring manager Brian Garvey appeared in some programmes at the start of the 1972/3 season. Garvey was handicapped by lack of funds at Bedford but went on to have a succesful coaching career elsewhere, latterly in Australia.

In the semi-final of the Anglia Floodlit Trophy, a relatively short-lived competition that was slightly more popular than the regular floodlit leagues, Bedford met Kettering at Rockingham Road on 16 April 1973, winning 1-0 on the night but losing 1-2 on aggregate. Here Phil Merry, a young goalkeeper from Shefford who was understudy to Alan Alexander, saves watched by David Earl and a crowd of just over 1,100. In a bizarre sequel, Bedford were later declared to have won when Kettering were convicted of fielding an ineligible player against Corby in the previous round. The Eagles met Corby in the final, at the start of the following season, but still lost.

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