Bedford Tigers
Bedford Tigers RLFC is a rugby league club based in Bedford, England. The first team plays in the Southern Conference, with a second team in the East Premier League. The Tigers are a fore running club in the amateur game in the south of England and continue to push boundaries of what can be achieved in the sport both on and off the field. As a club, Bedford Tigers have moved to their own ground in 2018 and boast two senior sides as well as two junior sides, a satellite programme and proposed schools program too. History. Rugby  league was played in Bedford from 1997 until the summer of 2002 under the control of the Bedford Swifts rugby union club who operated a league team in the Rugby League Conference. However, the Swifts decided at the conclusion of the 2002 summer season to cease operations. In 2004 Bedford Tigers RLFC was founded and competed in the London League. The Tigers only fielded one team but moved up into the Eastern Division of the Rugby League Conference in 2005. In 2006 the Tigers first team were crowned champions of the Eastern Division after defeating St Ives Roosters in the  regional grand final. A feat they replicated the following year too. The Tigers first team moved into the stronger Midlands Premier before trying the Rugby League Conference South Premier in 2009 and finished in 5th place. In 2015 Tigers became "Triple Crown" Champions and secured the 2015 East RL league as well as East RL 9s and Cup double, a feat that has yet to be matched. This was by far the Tigers most successful season both on and off the field. In 2016 Tigers Tigers came top of the East RL but lost in the play off final. However , they retained the East RL Cup and 9s trophies for the second year in a row. Tigers went on to become finalists in the league play off final in 2017 and 2018, retaining the East RL Cup again in 2017, and again in 2018 for an unprecedented 4th time in a row. In the five seasons from 2014 to 2018, Bedford Tigers had made the final of every competition they entered. In 2019 Bedford Tigers gained inclusion into the new Southern Conference, the 4th tier of Rugby League, where on their debut season finished 4th. In 2020 Bedford Tigers for  the first time in their history, competed in the Challenge Cup away to 2019 Cumberland Cup winners Distington. Community work. In 2018 the Tigers set up the Bedfordshire Rugby League Foundation. The aim of the foundation is to tie all of the Tigers' community activity together. They have set up 3 other "Satellite Clubs", Ampthill Hornets, Dunstable Dragons and Luton Vipers with the aim of generating local junior activity and competition in the summer months. These clubs have U14 and U16 age ranges and provide the start of the player pathway to the Tigers senior squad. Schools - The Tigers will  launch school activity in 2018 by providing coaching and competition administration for local schools in the town and nearby areas. Club Officials. 2004 – Andy Buckley (Chairman) 2005 – Andy Buckley (Chairman) 2006 – Phil Walker (Chairman) Andy Buckley (Secretary) 2007 – Phil Walker (Chairman) Andy Buckley (Secretary) 2008 – Phil Walker (Chairman) Rob Ashton and Andy Buckley (Secretary) 2009 – Phil Walker (Chairman) Rob Ashton and Andy Buckley (Secretary) 2010 – Graham Brown (Chairman and father of former Tigers player Jack Brown) Andy Buckley (Secretary) 2011 to present - Graham Brown Club Coaches. 2004 – Abe Kerr 2005 – Ian Flash Walker 2006 – Christopher Potts 2007 – Christopher Potts 2008  – Christopher Potts (Coach for first 3 games before resigning – Sam Richbell took over as coach for the remainder of the season) 2009 – Christopher Potts 2010 – Sam Richbell 2011 – Sam Richbell & Andy Champ 2012–Present – Rob Ashton 2015 - Rob Ashton & Richy Sinclair 2016-Rob Ashton 2017-Sam Richbell 2019-Pat Wilson Captains. Club Captains (2004-2019). 2004 – N/A, 2005 – N/A, 2006 and 2007 – Sam Richbell, 2008 – Gary Flook, 2009 – N/A, 2010 – Rob Ashton, 2011 – Rob Ashton, 2012 - Rob Ashton, 2013 - Paul Ryder, 2014 - Sam Richbell, 2015 - Carl Siudak, 2016 - Lee Walker, 2017 - Paul Ryder, 2018 - Sean 'Treacle' Phimister , 2019 - Lee Walker, Players who have captained the 1st team (2004-2019). Abe Kerr (2004), Phil Walker (2004 & 2005), Ian Flash Walker (2006), Christopher Potts (2004–2008), Tony Pullen (2005), Dean Coleman (2005), Sam Richbell (2007–2009), Dave Rowling (2007), Jamie Goss (2008), Gary Flook (2009), Rob Ashton (2010–2012), Paul Ryder (2013), Sam Richbell (2014), Karl Siudak (2015), Lee Walker (2016), Paul Ryder (2017), Lee Walker (2018,19) Players who have captained the 2nd team (2006-2016). Phil Walker, Craig Walker, Rob Ashton, Shane Moulds, Parwaz Khan, Brian McNamara, Mike Williams, Dean Ashton, John Stanfield, Eamon Murphy & David Lowe Representative Achievements. Other. Other  notable representative achievements from Tigers players in the past include – Records. Individual Records 1st XIII. As of 2010 friendlies do not count towards statistics Club Award Winners. Season 2009 Awards. 1st team only: Season 2007 Awards. Tigers 1st Grade: Tigers Development Side: Season 2006 Awards. Tigers 1st Grade: Tigers Development Side: Season 2005 Awards. Tigers 1st Grade: Season 2004 Awards. Tigers 1st Grade: [File:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bedford_2004.jpg] Women's Team. Beginning in June 2021, Bedford Tigers will field a women's team to play in the inaugural season of the RFL Women's Super League South. Bedford Tigers Bedford