AFC Kempston Rovers

AFC Kempston Rovers are a non league football club from Kempston, which is a small town connected to the south of Bedford, with the River Ouse dividing them. The club were formed as Kempston Rovers FC in 1884, playing for several decades in local league football.

In 1953 'The Walnut Boys' became members of the United Counties League, joining the new Premier Division in 1972. Rovers won the league title in the 1973-74 season and remained in that division until they were relegated in 1983. The club were promoted back to the Premier Division three seasons later as champions and then consolidating their status.

In 2004 the club turned to community status as they changed their name to AFC Kempston Rovers as Kempston Youth and Kempston Town clubs joined under one umbrella, to assist in their bid for funding.

  AFC Kempston Rovers will play in the United Counties League Premier Division in the 2013-14 season.


My visit

Wednesday 1st August 2012

I was in good form when I mate my Scarborough Athletic supporting mate Ian Anderson to take in another match together. The weather was glorious and Team GB were doing well in an amazing Olympic Games. Indeed, Ian brought me the news of Bradley Wiggins gold medal as he collected me at the station.

  We were heading to that evenings pre season friendly between Bedford Town and Cambridge United, but before hand Ian had kindly offered to show me a couple of new grounds for these pages.

I had originally intended to walk to Rovers Hillgrounds past the brewery where Bedford Town's much missed Eyrie ground once stood and over the Ouse. However, I wasn't complaining at the offer of a lift! We found the ground down Hillgrounds Road easy enough and Ian parked up while I went inside to have a look.

A gentleman came out and I asked if I was OK to take some photos? He was fine about it, after initially being concerned as to what we were doing.

  The ground was neat and tidy with open flat hard and grass standing on three sides and a long stand containing both seating and standing in front of the clubhouse, changing rooms and Bedfordshire FA offices. Opposite was an all weather court and the dug outs.  It was obvious that the funding had come through and had been used well.

We departed to make our way to our next port of call; Wootton Blue Cross