Names like Adams, Brown, Bunton, Chisholm, and Halliwell might suggest a defensive trio with wing-backs, but they actually belong to the Spice Girls. Their hit “2 Become 1” could have mirrored the potential merger of local rivals Bedford Town and Real Bedford—yet talks that began in January last year fell through, and both clubs remained separate for the 2025–26 season.
Now, they are set to face off for the first time since Bitcoin podcaster Peter McCormack purchased the former Bedford FC in 2021, rebranded it as Real Bedford, and announced plans to build an English Football League club in his hometown. The Bedfordshire County Cup final, scheduled for Friday, July 24, at Town’s Eyrie ground, carries no league points but offers a definitive measure of how these two teams stack up on the pitch.
When the county Football Association confirmed the date, Real quickly dubbed the match the “Battle of Bedfordshire” on social media.
“It’ll be an exciting occasion. Everyone in Bedford has wanted to see this for a while,” Real Bedford manager Rob Sinclair told BBC Sport. “It’ll feel different because the final usually happens right after the season ends, so personnel might have changed by then. Having it during pre-season is odd, but hopefully moving it to a Friday night will draw a good crowd.”
Both sides had a shot at National League North next season, but Real fell short in the Southern League Premier Central play-off final, losing 4-2 to Spalding United after extra time. Leading 2-1 with minutes left, a disputed penalty allowed Spalding to equalize and eventually win, denying Real and Sinclair their fourth consecutive promotion. Town responded on X with: “Congratulations to our friends @SpaldingUnited on your promotion. We look forward to welcoming you to The Eyrie next season!”
Despite the jab, Sinclair said: “I have the utmost respect for Bedford Town. I played there, and my dad took me to watch them as a kid, even though I’m a Tottenham fan. Rivalries are usually fan-driven. As management and players, we respect the game’s difficulty.”
The two clubs followed vastly different paths. Two years ago, Winkelvoss Capital—owned by billionaire twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss—invested $4.5 million (£3.6 million) in Real, an unprecedented sum for a club four tiers below the EFL. Meanwhile, former Town boss Lee Bircham had claimed the club lacked funds to compete in the Southern League Premier Central but then led them to promotion as champions.
Town finished 18th in National League North this season before Bircham left to join Hemel Hempstead Town earlier this month. His 28-year-old assistant, Harry Smart, stepped in. Smart holds a UEFA A license, and Town said: “His understanding of the club’s philosophy, standards, and long-term ambitions made him a natural fit.”
Both clubs won promotion last season, ensuring they won’t share the same non-league tier in 2025–26. The cup final now offers a rare chance to settle local bragging rights.
