Biggleswade FC might not be the only side representing the Bedfordshire town at Wembley in May as Biggleswade Town are still in the Buildbase FA Trophy albeit with a very tough looking Second Round tie at Vanarama National league high flyer's AFC Fylde. The game will see The Waders play the highest ranked team in a competitive fixture that they have ever faced in their 144 year history.
Going back to 2006 football in town was in very different position as The Waders had left their Fairfield Road ground and begun to ground share with Bedford United at McMullen Park whilst their new ground at Langford Road was constructed. Town finished the 06/07 campaign in eighteen position in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division with the move to their new home in 08/09 seeing them win the title and promotion to the Southern League for the first time in their history. Another promotion came via the play-offs in 12/13 which has seen them playing in the Southern League Premier Division since finishing in 9th, 19th, 14th, 7th and 16th positions. This season managed by Lee Allinson they are handily placed in fourth place of the new Southern League Premier Central along with their brilliant FA Trophy run.
In 2006 the town's other side Biggleswade United had just been promoted to the SSMFL Premier and then followed placings of 9th, 14th, 18th, 16th, 20th, 20th, 19th, 18th, 17th, 13th, 10th, 9th and last season 8th. They have played at Second Meadow since 1959 which is next door to The Wader's old Fairfield Road ground. In October 2014 the famous Spanish journalist Guillem Balague accepted a role as Director of Football and there has been many people behind the scenes working hard to create a community club with academy teams and ladies teams as well as the first team. Balague was recently appointed Chairman of United and the future looks very bright for the club.
Lots of local football fans expected them to better in the league last season and possibly challenge for the Premier Division title. They are currently placed in fourth position just below Biggleswade FC. They recently went on a twelve game unbeaten run in the league winning ten and drawing just two against FC in front of 323 at Second Meadow and Edgware Town also at home in front of a more modest 72 people.
Biggleswade FC were only formed back in 2016 after the Biggleswade Town Under 18's had a hugely successful two season's where they won the Thurlow Nunn Divisional Champions Trophy in both 2015 and 2016. They also reached the Second Round Proper of the FA Youth Cup.
The team then featured Keinan Davis who had been released by Stevenage Academy but was given the chance by manager Dave Northfield. He later made the move to Aston Villa and is now a first team regular at Villa Park and has been capped by England at u20 level.
Biggleswade FC's first season in the non-league system saw them crowned champions of the SSMFL Division One and gain promotion to the Premier Division.
Last season saw joint manager's Dave Northfield and Mark Inskip's side finish in a very creditable fifth position in the Premier Division and also, like this season, have an excellent run in the FA Vase. They reached the last 32 beating Northampton Sileby Rangers, Basildon United, Crawley Green and eventual SSML Premier Division champions Welwyn Garden City before losing to Thatcham Town who went on to win the competition at Wembley.
For a town with a population of around 16,000 it seems the future of our Beautiful Game is in very good hands in Biggleswade.
FORTHCOMING FIXTURES
BIGGLESWADE TOWN
Saturday 12th January - AFC Fylde (FA Trophy)
Tuesday 15th January - Kettering Town
Saturday 19th January - TAMWORTH
BIGGLESWADE UNITED
Saturday 12th January - Colney Heath
Tuesday 15th January - Arlesey Town
Saturday 19th January - STOTFOLD
BIGGLESWADE FC
Saturday 12th January - OXHEY JETS
Tuesday 15th January - LEIGHTON TOWN
Saturday 19th January - Tring Athletic
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