In memoriam: Brian Bedford

Scunthorpe United is saddened to learn of the passing of former player Brian Bedford, aged 88.

A Queens Park Rangers legend, Bedford was born in Ferndale, South Wales in 1933. After a youth career at Beddau Youth Club, he signed for Reading and made three appearances, scoring once in 1954-55.

He’d play a season at Southampton a year later, netting twice in five appearances, before a three-year stint at Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic (the modern day AFC Bournemouth) where he discovered his shooting boots, netting 32 times in 75 appearances.

The striker then joined QPR in July 1959 and never looked back. He was virtually an ever-present for the side over the next six years, where he didn’t once score less than 25 goals in a season.
He managed 39 goals in 1961-62, which was his highest tally. Bedford scored 14 hat-tricks, including netting four in a game on two occasions. He remains QPR's leading post-war goalscorer.

In total, Bedford scored an incredible 180 goals in 284 appearances for the R’s. He was inducted into QPR's "The Forever R's Club," similar to a Hall of Fame, in 2017.

After leaving QPR, he would sign for Scunthorpe in 1965, making a favourable impression in his one year at the Old Show Ground. He netted 23 goals in 37 games for the side as United steadied the ship following relegation in the previous season. The team finished 18th in Division Three, largely aided by the goals from Bedford.

A season with Brentford followed, netting 10 goals in 21 games, before he spent 1967 at the Atlanta Chiefs. On returning from the USA, he was banned from playing in the UK by the FA because he had played for a rebel league. That was overturned after help from the PFA, but by this time he was 35 years old, and nearing retirement.

After his retirement from playing he took up tennis, becoming a registered professional, qualifying as a coach in 1972. A knee injury forced him to give up in 1986, where he’d return to his beloved QPR as Stadium Manager for the next six years.

He’d retire in 1995, settling back in Llandaff, South Glamorgan.

The thoughts and condolences of everyone at the club are with Brian’s family and friends.