Bedford Tigers RLFC is a rugby league

Rugby league

Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...

 club based in Bedford

Bedford

Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...

, England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

. The first team plays in the Rugby League Conference

Rugby League Conference

The Rugby League Conference , was a series of regionally based divisions of amateur rugby league teams spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales.The RLC was founded as the 10-team Southern Conference League in 1997, with teams from the southern midlands and the...

, with a second team in the London League.

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

Rugby League Conference

The Rugby League Conference , was a series of regionally based divisions of amateur rugby league teams spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales.The RLC was founded as the 10-team Southern Conference League in 1997, with teams from the southern midlands and the...

. However, the Swifts decided at the conclusion of the 2002 summer season to cease operations.

In 2004 the Tigers' first team joined the London League

London League (rugby league)

The London, South and East Merit League is a rugby league competition founded in 1965. It is also known as the London League , London & South East Merit League, London Amateur Rugby League and London Merit League ....

. The Tigers only fielded one team but moved up into the Eastern Division of the Rugby League Conference

Rugby League Conference

The Rugby League Conference , was a series of regionally based divisions of amateur rugby league teams spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales.The RLC was founded as the 10-team Southern Conference League in 1997, with teams from the southern midlands and the...

.

In 2006 the Tigers first team were crowned champions of the Eastern Division after defeating St Ives Roosters

St Ives Roosters

St Ives Roosters are a rugby league club from St Ives in Cambridgeshire. They were founded in 1991 as one of the first rugby league clubs in East Anglia. Currently they play in the Rugby League Conference East Division.-History:...

 in the regional grand final. The Tigers first team moved into the stronger Rugby League Conference South Premier

Rugby League Conference South Premier

The Rugby League Conference South Premier is a division in the Rugby League Conference. It is the highest level of amateur rugby league in the South of England...

and finished in equal 4th place but failed to make the semi-final play-offs.

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)

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

Bedford Tigers Club Captains - 2004 to 2011

2004 - N/A
2005 - N/A
2006 and 2007 - Sam Richbell
2008 - Gary Flook
2009 - N/A
2010 - Rob Ashton
2011 - Rob Ashton

Bedford Tigers players who have captained the 1st team

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 - 2011)

Bedford Tigers players who have captained the 2nd team - from 2006 to 2010

Phil Walker, Craig Walker, Rob Ashton, Shane Moulds, Parwaz Khan, Brian McNamara, Mike Williams and Dean Ashton

Honours

• RLC East Regional Grand Finalists - 2010
• LARL Grand Finalists 2010 (Development Team)
• RLC Midlands Premier Semi Finalists 2008
• LARL Grand Finalists 2008 (Development Team)
• RLC National Grand Finalists - 2007 (Widnes Saints crowned Champions in the National Grand Final)
• RLC South of England Champions - 2007 (After defeating the Plymouth Titans in the Semi Final of the National Cup)
• RLC Eastern Division: Champions - 2007 (Back to Back Championships!)
• RLC Eastern Division: Champions - 2006
• London Amateur Rugby League: Runners-up - 2004 and Semi Finalists with the Development team in 2006
• Sport Bedford Awards (Bedford County Council): Team of the Year - 2006
• Christopher Potts - Finalist 'Coach of the Year' - Sport Bedford Awards - 2006
• Christopher Potts - Nominated for 'Coach of the Year' - RLC Awards 2007
• Jamie Goss - Nominated for 'Player of the Year' - RLC Awards 2007
• Sport Bedford Awards (Bedford County Council): Finalist Team of the Year 2006
• Christopher Potts - Finalist 'Coach of the Year' - Sport Bedford Awards - 2007

Representative Achievements (As at 02/11/2009)

East Region Representatives -

• 2005 - Christopher Potts, Tony Pullen and Shane Moulds
• 2006 - James Bull, Sam Richbell, Jamie Stead and Lee Clayton
• 2007 - Chris Aubury, Gary Flook (C), Dan Sharp, Simon Bevan, Matt Hughes and Stuart Riding
• 2008 - Chris Aubury and Rich Sinclair
• 2009 - N/A
• 2010 - N/A
• 2011 - Charlie Stafford, Sandro Parias, Craig Walker, Lee Walker, Rob Ashton, Scott Aspinall & Euan Irwin

South of England Representatives -

• 2006 - Sam Richbell and Lee Clayton v London and South East and North of England (Origin match)
• 2007 - Gary Flook and Stuart Riding v North of England (Origin Match)
• 2007 - Chris Aubury v Royal Navy and RAF
• 2008 - Rich Sinclair and Chris Aubury

England Lionhearts 'A' Representatives -

• 2007 - Gary Flook

England Lionhearts Representatives -

• 2002 - David Cox and Mark Whybrow (Whilst playing for Bedford Swifts Rugby League)
• 2006 - Sam Richbell (training squad)
• 2008 - Rich Sinclair (V Scotland and V Ireland)
• 2008 - Matt Hughes (V Ireland)
• 2011 - Scott Aspinall (v Ireland and v Wales)

Royal Navy, Combined Services, BARLA and GB Amateurs - Jamie Goss, Lee Rossiter

Other notable representative achievements from Tigers players in the past include -

• Dean 'Digger' Coleman - Conference Dream Team selection in 2004
• Marrick Murphy - Ireland Wolfhounds v Australia and v USA (2 caps and 3 tries)
• Andy Wight - Scotland 9's team - London Nines 2006
• Stuart Riding and Richie Sinclair - London 9's rep team - London Nines 2006
• Simon Bevan - Wales 'A' representative 2003/2004
• Rob Ashton - GB Fire Service representative

Club Records 1st XIII

• Record Victory - 100 - 00 v Leicester Phoenix 2008
• Highest Score - 100 - 00, v Leicester Phoenix 2008
• Most tries in a game - 18 tries v Leicester Phoenix 2008

Individual Records 1st XIII (As at season end 2011)

• Tries in a Season - 17 - Zander Peden, 2008
• Tries in a Career - 31 - Rich Sinclair 2005 - 2010
• Tries in a Match - 4 tries to Zander Pedan v Leicester Phoenix 2008. 4 tries to Jamie Goss v Cambridge Eagles in 2007, 4 tries to Marcus Dracup v Luton Vipers in 2004 and 4 tries to Andy Champ v Bury Titans in 2011
• Tries on debut - 4 tries to Zander Pedan v Leicester Phoenix 2008
• Goals in a Season - 56 - Chris Potts, 2006.
• Goals in a Career - 167 - Chris Potts, 2004 - 2009
• Goals in a Match - 14 - Chris Potts v Leicester Phoenix 2008
• Most Points in a Season - 128 - Rob Ashton, 2011
• Most Points in a Career - 374 - Chris Potts, 2004 - 2009
• Most Points in a Match - 28 - Chris Potts v Leicester Phoenix, 2008 (14 goals)
• Most Appearances - 55 - Chris Potts, 2004 - 2009

As of 2010 first team friendlies don't count towards statistics

Individuals Records 2nd XIII / Development Side

• Tries in a Match - 6 - Robert Harris v St Albans Centurions 2nds, 2007
• Goals in a Match - 11 from 12 - Rob Ashton v St Albans Centurions 2nds, 2007
• Points in a Match - 24 - Robert Harris v St Albans Centurions 2nds, 2007 (6T)

Club Award Winners

Season 2011 Awards

• Man of Steel (Previously "Player of the year") - Euan Irwin
• Young Player of the Year - Charlie Stafford
• Coaches Player of the Year - Dave "Bum Bum" Lowe
• Players Player of the Year - Craig Walker
• Best Newcomer - Lee Walker
• Most Improved Player - Pat Murphy
• Top Try Scorer - Andy Champ (12)
• Top Points Scorer - Rob Ashton (128)
• Clubman of the Year - Robbie Dolan
• Here comes the BOOM!- Darren Pickard

• DEV PLAYERS' PLAYER - NICK DUGGAN
• DEV COACHES PLAYER OF THE YEAR - ASH TARGETT
• DEV TOP POINTS SCORER - DEAN ASHTON
• DEV TOP TRY SCORER - TOM STAFFORD
• DEV MOST IMPROVED PLAYER 2011 - LEIGH PICKARD

Season 2010 Awards

• Player of the Year :- Paul Ryder
• Young Player of Year :- Scott Aspinall
• Most Improved Player :- Craig Walker
• Development Team Player of Year :- Dean Ashton
• Top Try Scorer :- Scott Aspinall (9 Tries)
• Top Points Scorer :- Rob Ashton (96)
• Clubman of the Year :- Gary Flook
• Outstanding Contribution :- Graham Brown
• Here comes the BOOM :- Terry Carter

Season 2009 Awards - 1st team only

• Player of the year : Euan Irwin
• 1st Grade Top points scorer : Christopher Potts
• Bedford Tigers Young Player of the year : Terry Carter
• Top tryscorer - Rich Sinclair and Euan Irwin
• Bedford Tigers Clubman of the Year : Dan Baroux
• Bedford Tigers Outstanding Contribution award : Gary Flook

Season 2008 Awards -

• 1st Grade Player of the year : Zandar Peden
• Development Team Player of the year : Jake Wheeler
• 1st Grade Top points scorer : Zandar Peden
• Development Team Top points scorer : Craig Walker
• Bedford Tigers Young Player of the year : Jack Wrigglesworth
• Bedford Tigers Most Improved Player of the year : Ollie Francis

Season 2007 - Tigers 1st Grade

• Clubman of the Year - Chris 'The Tradesman' Aubury
• Bedford Tigers Player of the Year - Nathan Reed
• 1st Grade Players Player - Sam Richbell
• Most Improved - Paul Robson
• Impact Player - Marrick Murphy
• Top Pointscorer - Christopher Potts
• Top Tryscorer - Nathan Reed
• Best Back - Chris Lee
• Best Forward - Jamie Goss
• Young Player of the Year - Jack Brown
• Club Captains Award (For outstanding achievement on and off the field and going above and beyond all expectations) - Rob Ashton and Craig Walker

Season 2007 - Tigers Development Side

• Development Team Players Player - Dan Baroux
• Development Team Top Pointscorer - Rob Ashton

Season 2006 - Tigers 1st Grade

• Clubman of the Year - Christopher Potts
• Bedford Tigers Player of the Year - Stuart Riding
• 1st Grade Players Player - Stuart Riding
• Man of Steel 'Top Tackler' Award - Jamie Stead
• Most Improved - James Bull
• Impact Player - Gary Flook
• Top Pointscorer - Christopher Potts
• Top Tryscorer - Stuart Riding

Season 2006 - Tigers Development Side

• Development Side Players Player - Phil Walker
• Top Pointscorer - Phil Walker
• Top Tryscorer - Mike Williams

Season 2005 - Tigers 1st Grade

• Clubman of the Year - Phil Walker
• Player of the Year - Dean 'Digger' Coleman
• Young Player of the Year - Alistair Veitch
• Most Improved - Brian McNamara
• Impact Player - Sam Richbell
• Top Pointscorer - Christopher Potts
• Top Tryscorer - Dean 'Digger' Coleman

Season 2004 - Tigers 1st Grade

• Clubman of the Year - Andy Buckley
• Top Tryscorer - Tommy McCollin
• Top Pointscorer - Tommy McCollin