A NON-LEAGUE club funded by Bitcoin owners is aiming to reach the Premier League.
Real Bedford currently tops the Southern League Central Division One in the ninth tier of English football.
The club is co-owned by Peter McCormack who is aiming to make the club bigger than local rivals.
He is keen to see the club overtake Kettering Town, then Northampton Town, MK Dons and then Luton Town.
His end goal is to lead the promised land of the Premier League.
McCormack wants has made a proposal to merge Real Bedford with Bedford Town FC.
He said: “As a proud Bedfordian, nothing would make me happier than seeing our town represented at the highest levels in men’s and women’s football.
“We’ve made amazing progress with Real Bedford, but this merger unlocks the potential to achieve something truly special in the town.
“I understand that fans of Bedford Town may feel some apprehension, but this only works if we come together to make it a success.
“By combining the strengths of both clubs, we’re building a united front that can deliver league football to Bedford.
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“I’m excited about what lies ahead and look forward to working with everyone to achieve our shared ambitions.”
The club benefited from investment from Gemini founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss in April 2024.
The pair invested £3.6million into the club in Bitcoin and became co-owners with McCormack.
McCormack believes that the investment can help propel the club up the football ladder.
He claims that the pair are worth much more than Wrexham’s Hollywood owners, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds.
He said: “I think Wrexham’s goal is the Premier League and they are up to League One now and they are backed by Ryan Reynolds and his wealth, but Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss are worth twenty times his net wealth and there are two of them.”
He has revealed that the aim of the club is to reach the EFL in the next decade.
He added: “The short-term goal was always football league for the men’s side in ten years.
“If we go up this year, that will be three promotions in three years, leaving us with three left to do in seven years, and I think that is ambitious, but we think we can do that.”
The clubs are still “waiting to hear back” from the FA and Southern League to approve the merger.
It would then be decided where the club would be placed in the football pyramid.
The legal agreement for the merger must be signed off by the end of March so it can be ready for the 2025/26 season.
Bedford Town FC director Jon Taylor has released a statement on the potential merger of the two clubs.
He has admitted that joining the clubs could “create something special”.
He said: “As someone who has been deeply involved with Bedford Town FC for many years, I am incredibly proud of our club’s rich history and the role it has played in our community.
“This proposed merger represents a unique opportunity to build on that legacy and take football in Bedford to the next level.
“I understand that this news may raise questions or concerns for our loyal supporters.
“However, I truly believe that by combining the heritage and passion of Bedford Town with the innovation and commercial success of Real Bedford, we can create something special.”
A NEPO-BABY with a very famous rock legend dad and TV star sister is getting ready to take on a huge tour with his band.
The musician in question could be seen in a black jacket gazing towards the camera, with his hand on his chin.
He appeared in a poster or his 2025 Australian tour, alongside his Inhale bandmates.
The image was captioned: “AUSTRALIA! We’re returning in June 2025 with our new album Open Wide! General sale is Friday 24th January at 9am local time.
“Pre-order Open Wide before 1pm AEDT on Tuesday 21st January for pre-sale access.”
The band, Inhale, revealed they’ll be headlining two Brixton Academy shows next week before US tour.
It’s none other than Eli Hewson, who has followed in the footsteps of his famous dad, Bono.
And his famous sister is Eve Hewson, an actress who has starred in the likes of Bad Sisters, Behind Her Eyes and The Perfect Couple.
Eli, 25, formed the band with pals Robert Keating, Ryan McMahon and Josh Jenkinson when they were at St Andrew’s College in Blackrock, south Dublin.
The indie rockers have quietly built up a following over the last few years, playing support to Noel Gallagher and embarking on tours.
Eli said: “We were struggling to find a band name that we could all agree on for a long time.
“I’m asthmatic so my sister as a joke used to call us The Inhalers and it kind of caught on.
“We liked it because it’s something you have to rely on and it’s a pick-me-up, and it relates to the stuff we’re talking about on the new material on the album.”
And U2 fans will know Bono is the frontman of the iconic band.
Since forming at school, the four likely lads from Dublin’s Northside had scaled dizzying heights to become the world’s biggest band.
The 64-year-old helped form U2 has a teenager and the band has since become one of the world’s most successful, with 14 studio albums, 22 Grammy Awards and over 170 million records sold worldwide.
The rocker has daughters Jordan, Memphis Eve, and sons Elijah, and John.
В одних господинь фіалки цвітуть без проблем, а в інших формують лише пасинки та нарощують зелень. Щоб виправити ситуацію, можна скористатися двома копійчаними засобами. Вони, як стверджують квіткарі зі стажем, стимулюють формування бутонів. Чому не цвітуть Є кілька простих причин, чому фіалки не цвітуть: неправильна посадка (пересадка); мало світла; дуже холодно; низька вологість; Якщо всі […]
Фото: Російські ЗМІ (ілюстративне фото) Угруповання вимагало гроші в бізнесменів та підприємців, які працюють на окупованих територіях України Схема угруповання полягала в шантажі російських військових, яких зацікавила пропозиція інтиму зі школярками. Банду з 11 «вагнерівців», які вимагали гроші у військових та бізнесменів, затримали в російському Ростові-на-Дону. Російські рекетири займалися викраденням та шантажем російських військових, що […]
A DEVASTATED mum’s “world has ended” after her six-year-old daughter was discovered dead in a house with her dad.
The bodies of Hope and Mark Gordon, 36, were found inside a family home in West Calder, West Lothian, after a concern was raised when she failed to attend school.
Cops initially said both deaths were “unexplained” but, following a post mortem, officers said they were treating the schoolgirl’s death as murder.
Her father’s death is still unexplained but police said they do not believe anyone else was involved in the crime.
A close friend of the family, Melanie Wheeldon, has said the youngster’s mother now faces “the worst time of her life” as she grieves the deaths.
She told MailOnline: “It is the worst time of her life. She’s just really sad. Her world has ended because of this… She (Hope) was so loved and didn’t deserve any of this.
“She was really well liked by everybody. She was out playing and building snowmen just two weeks ago, just a normal little kid, who didn’t deserve this.”
Hope, who attended Toronto Primary School, which paid tribute to her this week, had gone to stay with her 36-year-old father for the weekend.
Mark and Hope’s mother had shared custody of the youngster, it is understood.
There had been no suggestion that anything was amiss, making the discovery all the more shocking for her friends, family, and neighbours.
Melanie told the outlet: “There was no indication that anything was wrong. It came completely out of the blue. We are all just really shocked.”
Friends say Hope loved animals and had a pet cat called Roblox and a dog Milo at the house she shared with her mum.
The grieving parent is said to have had a “beautiful relationship” with her daughter.
In an effort to help the grieving family Melanie has set up a GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses.
“Every contribution, no matter how small, will be deeply appreciated. If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing this fundraiser link with your friends and family to help spread the word,” said Melanie.
The local community has been left in shock, with neighbours saying they cannot believe the young girl’s life has been so abruptly taken.
Detectives investigating the death revealed that officers had previous “contact” with the family.
Detective Superintendent Grant Hendry, of Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team, said: “Our thoughts remain with Hope’s family and friends, along with everyone affected by this tragedy.
“The families are understandably devastated and we are providing them with support through specialist officers at this extremely difficult time.
“Our team of officers continue to carry out enquiries to get answers for the families and at this time, we have no information to suggest anyone else is involved. I would ask that anyone with any information, no matter how small or insignificant you think it is, gets in touch with the police.”
Speaking earlier in the week, Hope’s headteacher Fiona Linfoot described her as ‘bright, bubbly and affectionate’.
She said: “Hope was a much-loved member of the Toronto Primary family, and will be hugely missed by all her friends and school staff.
“She was a bright, bubbly and affectionate girl who brought joy to everyone she met. We will really miss her infectious smile and kind heart.
“We would ask everyone to respect the privacy of her family and the school community at this difficult time. Help and support is available to any of our pupils, or staff, affected by this tragic news.”
Police Scotland Chief Superintendent Gregg Banks said earlier: “The shock and sadness felt across West Lothian is understandable. Words won’t take that anxiety and concern away.
“But I want to reassure people this is an isolated incident and there is no wider risk to members of the public at this time.
“We are working tirelessly to understand what happened within the property and answer questions from devastated family members.”
MRS Hinch has shared a must-have buy to store clothes away and make sure they stay protected.
The mum-of-two, soon to be three spent her Saturday reorganising her home and took her fans through the process.
The cleaning whizz, whose real name is Sophie Hinchliffe, boasts 4.8 million Instagram followers and took time out of her busy schedule to show her favourite buy to store clothes.
With Mrs Hinch being pregnant with her third boy, she was making way for the new tot in her £1.1 million farmhouse.
The 34-year-old said: “The random little sort outs bring me a lot of joy.”
“I need to store away my ‘going out’ dresses that I’ve never actually worn because I never go out,” the relatable mum continued.
“And now I’m heavily pregnant so there’s absolutely no chance of me even fitting in them… Maybe one day, in 2030.”
The mum revealed she picked up vacuum storage bags by Home Solutions from Home Bargains which cost £2.49 for two.
She revealed she had used them for years and they were ‘great’.
You fill the bag with clothes and seal them, then you can use a vacuum to suck the air out to make sure they take up as little space as possible.
Not only do they save space, the bags also ensure your items are protected from moisture, insects, odours and dust.
Mrs Hinch is expected to give birth soon and her year has been a rollercoaster of emotions which she has opened up about on social media.
On 25th April, Sophie lost her dad Alan after he passed away unexpectedly in his sleep.
Previously, the star shared that her late father, who suffered with life-long “chest, lung and heart” problems, was “never blessed with… fantastic health” and had been hospitalised for several weeks in 2023.
The mother, who took an eight-week break from social media after her dad’s death, previously shared an update with fans regarding her grief journey.
She shared that some days she feels ‘numb’ and finds the smallest of tasks like ‘mountains too tall’ to climb.
Her father actually died on April 25, 2024, but his grieving daughter waited until she was ready to share the sad news with her fans.
In April 2023, Sophie revealed how she was taking a break social media after her dad ended up in hospital.
She said at the time: “My dad is in hospital at the moment guys. My dad has never been blessed shall we say with fantastic health – from his chest, his lungs, his heart.
“He’s always struggled you know.”
She heartbreakingly added: “I just want him to be happy.”
Mrs Hinch announced the news of her pregnancy in late October, just six months after her dad’s tragic passing.
In the short video announcement, Jamie was seen painting the words “Baby boy #3” on a wall inside their house, while their sons Ronnie, five, and Lennie, three, added their hand prints around the message.
As the clip went on, a black-and-white filter faded away, revealing blue paint on the wall to signify that another boy is on the way.
It then cut to Sophie cradling her bump in a black catsuit.
The cleaning guru paid tribute to her late dad Alan in her caption, writing: “Heaven was too far to visit, so you sent us a special gift from up above.
“I have no doubt you sent him to us Dad, to fill our hearts with so much love.
“Ronnie and Lennie’s baby brother. Our baby boy no. 3. Joining us in 2025. The three musketeers.”
THE size of 136 Wembley Stadiums, it was to be the UK’s answer to Disneyland and three times larger than any other theme park in the country.
Artist’s impressions promised at least six roller coasters, themed fantasy lands and even a giant fairytale-style castle, all squeezed onto a peninsular jutting into the Thames Estuary near Dartford, Kent.
It was to be surrounded by 3,500 rooms in plush hotels, swanky restaurants, and even two brand new ferry terminals, bringing hope that the project could sustain 33,000 local jobs.
To say that the £2.5billion plans were ambitious would be an understatement.
But after being announced in 2012, the theme park became bogged down in a planning and legal quagmire that dragged on for thirteen years.
And despite the magical promises from CGI mockups and developers, for people in the area the saga has been anything but a fairytale.
With no desire to invest in much-needed improvements only for them to get bulldozed, businesses under its shadow feel they have been “left to rot” in favour of a proposal that could barely get its feet off the ground.
Even the Kuwaiti businessman behind the scheme, Dr Abdulla Al-Humaidi, said the park had “destroyed” his life.
This week, “Dartford Disneyland” – as it was dubbed by some locals – was finally pronounced dead after the company behind it was ordered into insolvency by the High Court.
And much of the blame for the project’s demise lies with the discovery of a tiny rare spider just 1cm long.
A spokesman for LRCH, the company behind the project, said: “The dream of the London Resort has been ended by the courts.
“Natural England fatally wounded the scheme, a single creditor has killed it and, with it, any chance of the UK competing on the envisaged scale of London Resort.”
But while many are breathing a sigh of relief, others described the axing as a “kick in the nuts” – a sorry end to a bold plan that never saw a single spade hit the ground.
“Everyone was up for it at first. Then the rug got pulled from underneath and no one wanted to spend any money,” said Gavin Raycraft, a car dealer based on the land that was set to be built on.
“But we’ve had ten years of decline – no one wanted to spend any money and then get turfed out.”
Snack van owner Joe Smith, 37, also witnessed the devastating impact of the now-binned project.
“It’s just a forgotten wasteland out there,” he said.
“It used to be lovely – now it’s just a place people come to dump cars. Sadly it’s just a godforsaken hellhole that’s been left to rot.”
Originally named Paramount Entertainment Resort, the park was set to feature Mission:Impossible and Star-Trek attractions as part of a licensing deal with the studio.
Partnerships were even announced with Aardman Animation – the team behind Wallace and Gromit – and the BBC, with hopes for Doctor Who and Top Gear-themed rides.
Many local firms welcomed the idea with open arms.
Some even changed their name to include “Paramount” in their titles.
Others were hopeful the area would have benefited from new infrastructure and jobs created – not to mention a brand new place to take the kids.
But it wasn’t long before things went pear-shaped.
In 2014, the district council was slammed by locals after sending nine senior staff on a £15,000 tax-payer funded “fact-finding” trip to a string of Florida theme parks.
The council leader at the time, Cllr John Burdern, defended the trip saying it would be “extremely busy” and “packed with serious business discussions”.
To all the naysayers and doom-mongers, the London Resort is going ahead, as planned
P Y Gerbeau
Three years on, there still wasn’t a hard hat in sight.
Then, in 2017, Paramount pulled out of the deal, plunging the plans into chaos – but the developers pushed on, now with an expected opening date of 2023.
All the while, companies in the area were counting up the costs with their future on the site in as much uncertainty as ever.
Parachuted in to save the project was theme park guru and Millenium Dome-saviour P Y Gerbeau – long nicknamed “The Gerbil” by the press – and Paramount were brought back on board.
Despite delay after delay prompting many to question if it would ever go ahead, bosses behind the scheme finally submitted plans to the Government at the start of 2021.
“To all the naysayers and doom-mongers, the London Resort is going ahead, as planned,” Gerbeau proudly declared in October that year.
Only a year later, he had resigned.
The plans had long faced backlash from nature lovers keen to preserve the local habitat.
And it was the discovery of the distinguished jumping spider that drove the nail into the masterplan’s coffin.
Measuring only 1cm across, the endangered critter is found in only one part of the UK.
But its discovery meant Natural England could designate the area as an SSSI – making planning approval nigh-on impossible, and prompting BBC and ITV bosses to cut their ties with the theme park.
Four months later, the planning application was withdrawn but locals continued to suffer.
Businesses on the land were long under threat from being issued a compulsory purchase order should the park go ahead, which could have seen them turfed out with as little as three months notice.
Firms were unable to secure long leases, unsure where they would be at the end of the year.
All of a sudden they pulled the plug – it was a bit of a kick in the nuts really
Mark West
Others put off repairs and expansion thinking their spending would be wasted.
Mark West, director of local accident repair shop Barney Sands, is one of those.
“We didn’t actually want to repair any of the units. The office got in such a mess because we were holding out.
“Then all of a sudden they pulled the plug – it was a bit of a kick in the nuts really.
“It’s not even a relief it’s over, because the estate is in such a state because in some way there’s no going back.
“We were all under the impression they were gonna bulldoze it, so what was the point of spending any money?” he added.
Mickey Helaith, 55, who runs All Auto on the opposite side of the road, was also angry that the developers dragged the project – and the uncertainty – on for so long after it became apparent that the project’s funding and planning approval was in jeopardy.
“We kept getting mixed messages. There’d be a rush, loads of consultants here, giving you leaflets, showing what the theme park was about, but nothing was actually confirmed,” he said.
“Then we hear it’s off. Then rumours are that it’s back on.”
He added: “We couldn’t expand, couldn’t move forward, couldn’t think about spending more money.
“It has been an uncertain time, for a long period of time. Even 18 months ago, a local estate agent said 100 per cent this is going ahead.
Employees were also left struggling with the possibility of losing their jobs should their workplace be forced out of the area.
George Preston, 20, an engineering apprentice at JMS Cranes, faced either a commute to Essex or having to quit his apprenticeship half way through.
“It was a bit of a shock really, not knowing what was going on, not knowing what the future would hold,” he said.
October 2012 – The London Resort is announced as London Paramount Entertainment Resort, to open in 2019
April 2013 – Discussion over development after discovery of a rare species of spider
May 2014 – London Paramount Entertainment Resort granted Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project status
December 2014 – Partnership with BBC Worldwide announced
March 2015 – Partnership with Aardman Animation and BFI announced
September 2015 – Opening date pushed back to 2021
November 2016 – Waterpark plans scrapped, opening date pushed to 2022
June 2017 – Paramount pulls out, with park renamed as The London Resort
September 2017 – Opening date pushed back to 2023, with estimated costs rising to £3.5billion
November 2018 – Opening date pushed back to 2024
April 2019 – Partnership with ITV Studios announced.
November 2021 – Natural England designates the area as a SSSI for nationally important invertebrates, breeding birds, plants and geology
March 2022 – Resort application is withdrawn
March 2023 – London Resort Company Holdings goes into administration
April 2023 – A Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) is agreed on
May 2023 – The transfer of a plot of land, considered a material change, occurred without prior notice to the CVA supervisor
June 2024 – Swanscombe Development LLP, the land for The London Resort, is listed for sale
October 2024 – Paramount tells the High Court that LRCH had not adhered to their obligations under the CVA
December 2024 – The judgement is published
New Year 2025: Further High Court hearings are scheduled to decide the fate of London Resort
January 2025: A court hearing will determine whether LRCH can enter administration
“Being an apprentice, moving to Essex would’ve been nigh on impossible to get there every day. It would’ve put me out of work.”
Other locals were sad to see the project scrapped, including Lee Ingram, 50, who runs a nearby estate agency.
He said: “It would have definitely been good for the area and especially its infrastructure.”
“I think they should put a golf course there instead,” he added.
With the doomed theme park now firmly laid to rest, the blame game has now heated up.
The company behind the scheme, LRCH, had already racked up £100million in debts.
It was then sued by Paramount for breaching the terms of their agreement.
Many pointed the finger of fault at Dr Abdulla Al-Humaidi, the Kuwaiti businessman who had also previously been chairman of nearby Ebbsfleet United.
Doug Hilton, chairman of Peninsular Management Group, which brought together a number of the firms on the estate, decried the scheme as “utterly madcap”.
“It just goes to show that in fact the planning system has worked and how much chronic damage a naive young man with a lot of money can do,” he added.
In an interview with KentOnline, Dr Al-Humaidi revealed he has been unable to return to his homeland for fear of being imprisoned, after facing legal action from investors who have accused him of cooking up a “fictitious” project.
He resigned from the company’s board in 2022.
Dr Al-Humaidi added that the saga “destroyed [his] life”, ruining his reputation and leaving him bankrupt.
For the frustrated tycoon, blame lay squarely with this country’s “broken” planning system.
Peninsular Management group is now fighting to have the site returned to the control of local planning authorities.
The Sun has approached Dr Al-Humaidi for comment.