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MATCH FOCUS | Friday Night Lights & Real Ale Festival
It’s time for the return of our annual Rugby and Ale matchday as Blues lock horns with old rivals Coventry under the Friday night lights in our final home fixture of the league season (KO 7:45pm).
Save £4 and buy tickets online here.
Big Game Preview
Mike Rayer’s charges will be looking to secure back-to-back victories for the first time in 2022 following a seven-try success at Nottingham last time out.
Victory at Lady Bay put Blues back in the driving seat to secure fifth position, but with Hartpury and Ampthill ready to pounce, only a victory will do as Blues conclude their home league campaign in Rayer’s 499th game as DoR.
Coventry, meanwhile, have found life tough on the road and are just one of two teams yet to win away from home this season. With several players back from injury and this their final opportunity to secure an away success, expect another classic encounter between two historic rivals.
Blues have a strong home record against Coventry in recent seasons, but it’s the Butts Park Arena side who hold the significantly superior record as they meet for the 182nd time.
Real Ale Festival – Blues Marquee
Friday’s highly anticipated clash also plays host to our annual Real Ale Festival with a full Starting XV available on offer from our Match Sponsors, Eagle Brewery.
The wide selection includes; Courage Directors, Banks’s Sunbeam, Ringwood FortyNiner, Old Thumper and Razor Back, Wychwood Hobgoblin IPA, Tetley’s, St Austell Tribute, Wainwright’s Golden Beer, Young’s London Special, Jennings Cumberland, Marston’s Pedigree, Butcombe Original, Brakspear Oxford Gold and Gravity.
PLEASE NOTE: Public access to the Blues Marquee will begin at 7pm as this is a pre-match hospitality venue. It will then remain open until late to sample all we’ve got to offer!
Food and Entertainment
Gates open from 5pm, why not arrive early, grab a programme and have a traditional pint in one of our bars before heading across to the Blues Marquee to try the real ales on display.
PLEASE NOTE: The Scrum Bar will remain OPEN throughout on Friday night due to the easing of some red zone restrictions, but a segregated area for players catering will remain.
Elsewhere, visit the Mini Fan Village on the North Terrace to try our Coffee and Cake Horsebox, Trailer Bar and Sweet Cart before getting set for the big match under the guidance of announcer, Will Roberts.
Post-match, live music with Dan Walder returns in The Blues Marquee to play you into the evening as well as the Man of the Match award.
There will be three Hot Food outlets available on matchday spread out across the ground; the Scrum Bar Serving Hatch, The Bedford Barn and The Burger Hut.
SwipeStation is also back. If you are unfamiliar with the system which launched in The Scrum Bar last month then more info is available here to grab a pint from the Fast Lane.
All Eco Cup donations will go to our charitable arm, Blues Foundation. Help them continue their outreach and activation by dropping your cup into the charity bin outside the marquee.
Blues Community Guard of Honour
We’re delighted to welcome Bedford Junior Blues U9s to Goldington Road for our first pre-match Optimis Consulting Guard of Honour since before the pandemic.
There are opportunities for your club to join us at the Championship Cup fixture with Nottingham on St George’s Day. Please contact Head of Community, Adam King here to register your interest.
Safety Briefing
Bedford Blues will continue to use preventative measures for the safety of all supporters, players and support staff with COVID-19 remaining a threat.
As per previous home games, we are encouraging supporters to partake in a Lateral Flow Test on the day of the match. Please consider the health and safety of all #BluesFamily members by testing.
All venues remain CASHLESS and further safety precautions including a plentiful supply of hand sanitisers from stewards will be available on match day.
Club Shop
The Blues Club Shop is open again this Friday. Treat yourselves to a new piece of merchandise, ranging from replica shirts to rucksacks, books to beanies. Open from one hour before kick-off, at half-time and full-time.
Match Day Ticketing
Buy tickets online and save a massive £4 on all adult prices, click here to buy.
Live Stream Passes
Don’t panic if you can’t make it down to Goldington Road! Buy Live Stream Passes online for just £8 with full commentary from Sam Roberts and a nominated Blues player, click here to buy.
Match Sponsors: Eagle Brewery
Match Ball Sponsors: NGK
Man of the Match Sponsor: GS Yuasa
