Biggleswade's third senior club signs up for SSML

Chronicle Country has a new senior football club for the 2016/17 season.
Dave NorthfieldDave Northfield
Dave Northfield

Biggleswade FC will play in the Spartan South Midlands League (SSML) from August after being given official FA approval last week.

They have been formed from the all-conquering Biggleswade Town U18s side and will compete alongside clubs including Langford and Ampthill Town in Division One, Level Six of the non-league pyramid.

Alongside Waders and United, it means Biggleswade now has three senior sides and the club will be jointly managed by Dave Northfield and Mark Inskip.

A delighted Mr Northfield told the Chronicle: “We had a meeting at Wembley last week and they allowed us to go ahead.

“After last season we had to make a big decision as to where we went next, as all bar three of the players were now too old for the Under 18s League.

“We didn’t think that the U21s League was the right direction for us and we wanted Level 6 football, so we put our case to the SSML.

“It’s a good league with quite a few local clubs like Langford, and the distances to travel aren’t that far.

“We hope we can attract a few people to come along and support the lads.”

Biggleswade FC will groundshare at Town’s Carlsberg Stadium next season but Mr Northfield stressed they were separate clubs: “We are our own club, with our own set-up, our own committee, our own finances.”

Last season’s side won the Thurlow Nunn League Champions final and was made up of many teenagers who had been released from professional sides. They included Keinan Davies who lad been released from Stevenage – but his performances at Biggleswade saw him switch to Aston Villa last season.

Mr Northfield said the youth ethos would continue although they would look to bring in a couple of more experienced players to handle the more physical nature of adult senior football.

He said: “I think we will hold our own next season, but beyond that the rest is unknown. We won’t go and win the league but I think we’ll handle ourselves.

“There’s a real opportunity for some local lads to get involved and play for us, maybe currently playing in the Bedfordshire League Premier who want to take a step up.”

Training begins next Thursday, June 23 from 7pm to 9pm at the Carlsberg Stadium and the club already have four pre-season friendlies arranged.

Anybody interested in attending training should call Dave Northfield on 07718 736920 or Mark Inskip on 07787 173876.

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