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Established 1949

Following The Blues for 75 Years

The Followers were formed on Tuesday 18th November 1949 in Captain Percy Burke’s home on Castle Road. 

 

The original purpose was to arrange transport to away games. This was just after the Second World War when, like many other clubs, supporters who had been starved of rugby for 6 years were struggling to see much rugby. 

 

Bedford Blues, captained by R. C. Dickie Furbank, were doing well and home gates were good but it was hard for supporters to get to many away games at places like Gloucester which would entail an all day rail journey. In 1949, very few people had their own transport. 

 

The name ‘Followers’ was chosen to emphasise that the purpose was to help get people to away games and not to get involved in a role within the Bedford Blues club itself. 

 

The first Followers away trip occurred on October 7th 1950 when 2 coaches went to Gloucester. They left at 8am. 

 

The purpose and methodology of the Followers has changed little although they have become involved in many projects at Goldington Road and have funded things like new mowers, etc. to help the club. 

 

In 1975 they took 10 coaches to Twickenham for the Cup Final that Bedford won by beating Roselyn Park. This was followed by taking 29 coaches to the 2005 Cup Final which Bedford won by beating Plymouth. 2006 saw 40 coaches go to see the Cup Final which Bedford unfortunately lost to Harlequins. 

 

The first president was Rex Alston, the well known journalist and broadcaster who was a Master at Bedford School and Captain of Bedford Blues.

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 C'mon you Blues!

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