Football rivalry about to get real in Bedford

No local solidarity there then - but Sinclair said: "I have got the utmost respect for Bedford Town. I was there as a player and my dad used to take me to watch them when I was a kid - although I'm a Tottenham fan."

He continued: "Rivalries are usually wanted by fans. As management and players, there is always that respect because we know how hard it is in football."

There is a big contrast between the two clubs - both of whom won promotion last season to ensure they would not be in the same non-league tier in 2025-26.

Two years ago, Winkelvoss Capital, owned by billionaire twin brothers Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, invested $4.5m (about £3.6m) in Real, an unheard of sum for a club then four levels below the EFL.

Meanwhile, former Bedford Town boss Lee Bircham said last year that the club did not have the finances to compete in the Southern League Premier Central, only to then lead them to promotion as champions.

They finished 18th in National League North this season before Bircham left to be appointed by Hemel Hempstead Town earlier this month, and was replaced by his 28-year-old assistant Harry Smart.

He has a Uefa A licence and announcing his appointment last week, Town said: "His understanding of the club's philosophy, standards, and long-term ambitions made him a natural fit for the position."

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'Our aim is to keep progressing'

Looking back at last year's merger talks, Sinclair does not know why they came to nothing.

"It wasn't something I was involved in, I was concentrating on what we were doing on the pitch," he said.

And the former Stevenage and Forest Green Rovers midfielder certainly does not measure his side's success in terms of where they are compared to Bedford Town.

"It's not about being at the same level and then overtaking them, our aim is to keep progressing and moving forward - where that takes us, we'll just have to wait and see. Our focus is not on Bedford Town, it's on what we're doing."

Comparisons have been made between Real and Wrexham, who have soared from non-league to the Championship with the help of backing from Hollywood, but Sinclair believes the two situations are very different

He said: "Wrexham already had a huge fan base and stadium. I get that people make comparisons because they have American connections and so do we, but we started in the lower levels at step six.

"If one day we can get to join Wrexham in the higher levels, that would be amazing."

McCormack's vision for Real Bedford includes leaving their current McMullan Park home for a new stadium and wider sports facility on land at the the International Athletics Stadium site on Barkers Lane, though nothing has yet been agreed with the borough council.

"The plans are incredible," said Sinclair.

"It will benefit the entire community, not just Real Bedford and with Universal Studios just around the corner, the whole town is on the up."

As always, though, his primary focus will remain on football as he looks to build a team to go one better next season and secure promotion to step two of the non-league pyramid, with just two more to go after that to reach the EFL.

And before next season starts, Real will look to put one over on Bedford Town, who reached the County Cup final in 2022, losing 5-3 to Leighton Town on penalties following a 2-2 draw.

Previous finals have been held at Luton Town's Kenilworth Road ground, but this time the finalists will not need to make a 19-mile trip south.

"I wouldn't say I'm disappointed the game's not at Luton," Sinclair added.

"I feel the game being at Bedford will actually attract a bigger crowd as it's local for everyone."

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