Bedford Town Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of our new manager. The club have agreed a deal with Lee Bircham, who arrives at the Eyrie with immediate effect. The current Leighton Town manager, who won the Spartans South Midlands Premier Division with ease this season, has agreed a two season contract at the Eagles, with the target of a return to step three football within it.

The defender had a long playing career, turning out for Hemel Hempstead Town, Berkhamsted, Bovingdon, Aylesbury United, Leverstock Green, Kings Langley, Beaconsfield SYCOB, Ruislip Manor, Fisher Athletic and Greenwich Borough. Whilst at Bovingdon, he was given the role of manager and this took him from playing the game, into the dugout. He success at Bovingdon (winning the league for the first time in the club’s history) attracted him up the levels to Berkhamsted, where he guided the Comrades to top of step four when the season was curtailed in March 2020 due to COVID-19.
Whilst step three was not taking part during lockdown, Bircham took the opportunity to manage in the National League, taking up the role with step two Hemel Hempstead Town FC. Lee guided the Tudors to safety, finishing in 10th place as step two was also curtailed due to the National lockdown in 2021.

After leaving Hemel, Bircham joined Leighton Town and this season has guided them to the Spartans South Midlands league title and league cup double. In April 2022, Bircham won the Bedfordshire Senior Cup beating the Eagles on penalties in the final at Luton Town. Over his near decade as a manager, he has created winning teams at step five, four and two and this was what made him a stand out candidate. He brings with him a reputation of furthering good, young, local players to take clubs to the next level. Since 2019, he boasts a record of 74 wins from 128 games at steps five, four and two.

In his first interview since arriving at the Eyrie, Bircham said “I’m delighted to be here and honoured to be at the Eyrie. It was an opportunity that couldn’t be turned down. I’m really thankful to all at Leighton Town for the last few seasons, but this was a chance to manage a sleeping giant of non-league football.”

He continued “We can’t wait to get started. The work starts now on preparing for the new season and we’ll be looking at the squad make up ready for when the new season starts. It’s a massive club, with a good, solid and passionate fanbase.”

The board at the club are delighted to have secured the services of such a well respected manager within the game, one who has a current history of success at a range of levels recently. Appointing Lee concludes a process which has lasted a number of weeks, and we would like to thank everyone who took their time apply and be considered for the role.
Joining Lee as his assistant at the Eyrie is former player Tony Joyce. Joyce has a long experience within non league, having represented the club in his playing days. He also managed Kempston Rovers and was alongside Lee for their successful title winning campaign at Leighton Town this season.

Speaking to www.bedfordeagles.net, owner and director Jon Taylor commented “This is a great appointment for the Football Club. It really shows our intentions and aspirations moving forward, and as a Board we cannot wait for the new season to kick off. After a very disappointing season at Step 3, which was unfortunately evident from start to finish that our squad wasn't anywhere near strong enough during the season, we can now look forward to a new campaign with a bright future. After a very long list of good quality candidates who applied for the managerial position, we as a Board felt that Birchy was definitely the right man for the job. He has so many different real qualities which we know he will establish and instil out there on the Eyrie pitch.”

Taylor continued “He has excellent leadership and man management skills and his experience is proven at the level and above. This is also married up with his technical and tactical understanding of the game which is unquestionable. We undoubtedly believe that Birchy will bring the Football Club to where we all want to aspire to be in the next couple of years. We also know that he is renowned for recruiting the very best local players in and around the area which was proven this year at Step 5.

Birchy's ambition mirrors ours at the Football Club and to prove to him we are all on the same page we have told him that he will be fully supported at all times by the Board on all football matters. The great plus point is we have full confidence in him and his management team to bring back the good times, something which our loyal supporters fully deserve. We have also negotiated and agreed a 2 year contract with a 1 year option with him which will keep him at the Football Club till the end of the 24/25 season.”