The Bedfordshire Football Association was founded in 1894 when an invitation was sent from one Mr. G.H. Barford of the Luton Town club to all clubs in the County to attend a meeting at the Cowper Arms Coffee Tavern in Luton.
The letter read as follows:
Barbers Lane
Luton
January 2nd 1894
Dear Sir
As the Football Association have decided that all Clubs must become affiliated to some Association, it has placed Clubs in Bedfordshire at a great disadvantage, and the only way to remedy this is to form a Bedfordshire Football Association, in order that any club so desiring may become affiliated at a small charge.
I beg to invite you to a Meeting to be held in the Cowper Arms Coffee Tavern, Cheapside, Luton, on Tuesday, 16th inst., to discuss the matter, and decide if such Association shall be formed.
As it is impossible for me to know all persons in the county interested in the Winter Game, I shall be glad if you will inform any one you may know of this Meeting.
In case you cannot attend will you kindly let me know, in the event of the Association being formed, if your Club will become Members.
I am
Yours respectfully
G. H. Barford
On the 18th January the ‘Luton News’ newspaper reported that the meeting was attended by “a good muster of young men representing the junior clubs and others interested in the welfare of football” who were in favour of a County Football Association being formed. One month later the Association was officially formed and the first Annual General Meeting was held on 30th August of the same year, electing Mr G.H. Barford as the Associations first President.
At this time the Football League was only six years old and the England National team had only the other British teams as international opponents.
The Bedfordshire Football Association has now been in existence for over 100 years and nowadays can claim a membership of over 500 clubs including Wembley finalists! We can now boast of our own Headquarters and look forward to the years ahead since football has never been so popular.
The future of Football looks bright and we will endeavour to continue this trend through pro-active Football Development and improved governance of the game, including Administration improvements in order that everyone, who wants to, can become involved in football in some way.