Pitchero Non League

......become Bedfont & Feltham FC – but the name won't change for another season.

Bedfont FC went bust two years ago, but their ground at The Orchard, run by Bedfont Social Club, lived on through tenants Feltham FC and new club Bedfont Town, who also moved in as tenants.

Bedfont Town, who used to be known as Bedfont Green and has lived a nomadic existence playing at Viking Sports, Yeading and Windsor & Eton, took over Bedfont FC's mantle, but their own future now looks bleak. If they go under, Feltham would be the only club left standing at The Orchard, and they believe linking up with the people who won ran the old Bedfont club as the best way forward.

However, the club will remain as Feltham FC next season as they had to apply to play in next season's FA Vase under that name back in March, and it is too late to change.

Feltham chairman Brian Barry said: “We don't know what Bedfont Town's intentions are yet, but I can confirm Feltham and Bedfont will merge as Bedfont & Feltham FC.

“We will be bringing the people who were involved in the old Bedfont club, who are dyed in the wool football people, back into the game.

“It will be a straight amalgamation, we are not buying them out, and we will find a combination of our colours (blue and white) and Bedfont's (yellow and blue), and the two badges.

Feltham themselves led a nomadic existence since being forced out of Feltham Arenas almost a decade ago, playing at the likes of Hampton & Richmond and Egham Town before settling at Bedfont.

Barry said: “It's been a long time since Feltham have had a home of their own, and this would be the perfect solution.

“We have been waiting for 12 months for Hounslow Council to agree the wording on a lease for Feltham Arenas – I think that option may have run its course.”

It will be the second time Feltham have merged with a troubled neighbour – when Hounslow Town went bust back in 1991, the two clubs came together as Feltham & Hounslow Borough for four season before reverting back to just Feltham.

But Barry is adamant lessons have been learnt from that ill-fated venture and it will be different this time around.

He added: “The merger with Hounslow was all word of mouth over pints, which all the parties involved reneged on. This will be done properly, before a committee of members.

“After what we went through with Hounslow, we know the pitfalls, it was really badly done. They were used to having a bigger club and couldn't accept coming down to our level.”

Tags: News | Northwood

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