No-one expected Real Bedford to come quietly into the Pitching In Southern League.
They are a club that don’t care what others think; they have their own style and swagger, which has seen them win four of their five Division One Central games so far, scoring 17 goals in the process.
Chalking up the biggest victory of the season so far across all four of our divisions – an 8-0 romp against North Leigh – their backstory is one that has fascinated many.
In the wake of relegation from the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division in 2022, Bitcoin Podcaster, Peter McCormack, took over as Chairman promising to take the club on a journey and just two years down the line, he has certainly delivered.
Step 4 football and big American investment earlier this year mean that this is just the start of the story.
“I had always wondered why Bedford never had a team in The Football League and why Bedford Town had never managed to reach that level,” McCormack told us. “Growing up as a Liverpool supporter, I eventually felt the pull to support a local team. I started attending Bedford Town matches and quickly realised that football success is rooted in the business side of the sport.
“For a club to succeed, it must be a sound business that can compete for top players and managers. I saw opportunities for Bedford Town to grow both internationally, and commercially at a local level. I approached the club with a proposal, but when my initial offer was turned down, I turned to their neighbours, Bedford FC, made an offer, and took control of the club.”
The club changed its name to Real Bedford ahead of the 2022/23 season, McCormack’s first major mark, and it led to a double of promotion and the Bedfordshire Senior Trophy.
“At Real Bedford Football Club, we have a relentless desire to win, but we wish to do so by playing attractive and entertaining football,” continued McCormack. “Winning matches is important to us, but we believe a football club should be more than just a sports team; it should be a voice for its community, creating positive change off the pitch.
“We have five pillars:
1. Opportunity: We are committed to fostering skill development for boys and girls of all ages, rejecting equality of outcome in favor of building strong, resilient young people who value discipline, hard work, and fairness.
2. Fairness: Real Bedford champions economic fairness and supports those combating corruption and authoritarianism. We are dedicated to promoting human rights and liberty for all.
3. Advocacy: We promote free speech and oppose excessive taxation and government interference. We advocate for smaller government, lower taxes, and fostering entrepreneurship and free markets.
4. Bitcoin: This is central to our identity and financial strategy. With its fixed supply, Bitcoin protects against inflation and preserves wealth. As a decentralised peer-to-peer network, it resists censorship and protects privacy, a cornerstone of democracy. It is also a tool for activists fighting dictatorships worldwide.
5. Ethics: We oppose the ownership of football clubs by regimes with egregious human rights records. Premier League club owners should pass a fit and proper person test.
“Real Bedford Football Club believes that the goals and interests of football clubs should never come before human rights, the fight against corruption, and the prevention of government overreach. We are committed to making these values integral to our club's identity.
“I couldn't be happier with where we’re at as a club; the progress has been unreal – back-to-back promotions for the men, now playing at Step 4, and a treble for our women's team in their inaugural season.
“Off the pitch, I'd like to be further ahead, but building the right infrastructure takes time. I'm also quickly learning how fast things can change and am having to adapt to the higher leagues and the challenges that come with them.
“I’m loving these early days in the Southern League. Five games in, and we’re sitting just off top spot with four wins, but I’m aware there are other strong clubs; Aylesbury United, Berkhamsted and Flackwell Heath have had great starts. If we’re still up there challenging at the end of the season, I’ll be a happy chairman.
“I expect things to be much more challenging, both on and off the pitch, at this level. We are now starting to face bigger clubs with long histories, clubs that are well accustomed to this level. Our manager [Rob Sinclair] is one of the best in non-League football, with a proven track record, and I believe he has built a squad capable of competing. Off the pitch, there is far more administration, which we are gradually getting used to. I am fortunate to have such a great team around me.”
We asked McCormack how the skills that he has learned and develop in business have transferred into running a football club.
“I think my experience has been really beneficial,” he added. “Knowing how to run a company, read a balance sheet, and understand a P&L statement helps with the challenges of running a football club, but my career in advertising and marketing has probably been the most valuable.
“To sell merchandise, attract fans to games, and secure sponsors, you need to get the brand and message out there, which is something I have focused on heavily. Football, however, is unique; in every other business, the aim is to grow sales and deliver a profit, but in football, we are simply trying to get as close to breaking even as possible.
“There are definitely downsides, like the outdated misogynistic attitudes that persist towards the women’s game, the bureaucracy of football administration, and operating within what is essentially a dictatorial monopoly, but overall, I really can’t complain.
“Football brings out both the best and the worst in people. I’ve had to have a word with myself sometimes as the passion has got ahead of me. One specific game I was particularly rude to a referee, it was a reality check. I wrote to him and apologised and have tried to be more stoic since. Football is full of characters and I’ve met incredible individuals doing remarkable things in their communities, but I've also come across some real bad apples too.”
So, what are the short and long-term ambitions for the club?
“In the short term, our goal is to challenge for the league again with both our men’s and women’s sides” McCormack responded. “In the long term, we aim for the men’s team to reach The Football League and, eventually, the Premier League, while the women’s team targets the Women’s Super League.
“Of course, I get laughed at for these ambitions, and understandably so, but we have won every league we've competed in as Real Bedford, and while it’s still early in the season, both our teams are currently top of the league, so I hope we’ll be in the mix by the end of it.
“As for the Premier League and WSL aspirations, we now have billionaire co-owners, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, who have made their first investment in the club – $4.5 million - the largest ever investment in a non-League football club. They share my vision for Real Bedford and are ready to support it.”
We were keen to find out the biggest influences on McCormack, in business, football and life.
“My biggest influence has always been punk rock,” he said without hesitation. “I grew up on bands that couldn’t give a **** about what society thinks, bands that stood fiercely for their values and called out the status quo without hesitation. I have no time for assumed authority or for people who tell us how things 'should' be done.
“At Real Bedford, we don’t care what others think; we’re here to do things our way. If that means standing up against what we disagree with, then so be it. This isn’t arrogance as some might perceive it; it’s about rejecting the herd mentality and challenging the complacency that has dragged society into decline.
“I have a particular disdain for the government and the media—both rife with liars and grifters, pitting people against each other, the latter, quietly looting the wealth of hardworking citizens with their moronic economic policies.
“I also make it a point to spread awareness about the dangers of socialism, which I know often comes from a place of good intentions but is rooted in a flawed framework that lacks a basic understanding of economics. In the end, it tends to worsen the very problems it claims to solve, stifling innovation, freedom, and individual responsibility in the process.”
Life will certainly never be dull at Real Bedford. On Saturday they go to Leverstock Green as they return to the battle for League points.
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