james smiles, football & fixtures secretary

“I started watching the Eagles in 1994, when as a five-year-old my family took me down to festive & Easter games to get out the house. I have many memories of my childhood, growing up watching my hometown side rocket through the lower levels of non-league, as the town restored a football side it could be proud of. Having been involved with the supporter’s club since 2004, I was asked to cover the former club secretary while he was on sick leave in 2012. I agreed to do the role for a month to see the club through a difficult situation, and here we are a decade later with me still in the same role.

100% of my role is voluntary, and a lot of people question why I do the amount I do for our club. The reason for this is my love to provide something back to the local community which we can all be proud of. Sport brings a group of the population together once or twice a week, in a common activity and has this power to unite people together with the same aim. In non-league football this collection of people is small, and like a family. However, in the last few years I have seen this Eagles family grow at the same rate as the interest in the club within the community.

My role involves liaising with players, clubs, officials and the league, to ensure that we are compliant with regulations.

Come and join us while we’re riding this wave. I look forward to seeing you all for a pint in the Eagles bar, en route!” now carol and i look after the hospitality suite in memory of former director david taylor

mike & carol john, hospitality volunteers

“Our time with Bedford Town goes back to The Old Eyrie Stadium helping with machinery for the pitch and ground. Then joining up at Allen Park on matchdays, assisting with prematch preparations such as roping off the pitch, selling matchday programmes and anything to help raise money to help club. Then fighting the council for a ground for several years with David Donnelly and finally we flew into the old tree plantation council area, now known as The New Eyrie. During that opening season in the 90s, the club had the best group of volunteers which enabled us to get the ground open in a very short time.

Now Carol and I look after the hospitality suite in memory of former director David Taylor, plus any midweek meetings should this be required. Now to the local community and supporters old and new… the close season is the time when your help is most valued, helping operations and maintenance, etc. THIS IS YOUR CLUB and now playing at step three where we belong!”