Bedmond Social is the football club that represents an Abbots Langley sports/social club that, unsurprisingly, has the same name. But why did we have cause to meet them? Well, it all harks back to Boro’s early days; specifically, a Herts Intermediate Cup tie during the 1979-80 campaign. And by virtue of that competition’s very name, our encounter was not one at senior level – even though that season was our first playing under that status.
Bedmond Social: The Facts
Bedmond Sports & Social Club
Toms Lane, Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, WD5 0RB
As far as we can tell, Bedmond Social were last seen competing in the Hertfordshire Senior County League as of the 2022-3 season. To be more specific, they were members of Division Three – the fourth out of that competition’s five levels. The fact they are playing in a senior competition would suggest, obviously, that they’d taken on senior status at some point between 1980 (when we met) and 2022. To be fair, they could’ve held senior status back then too. It’s just that we met them in the Herts Intermediate Cup, which we took to be a level below senior status.
How to get to Bedmond Social – Travel Information – Distance: 20 miles
By Road
The easiest way to get yourself down to Abbots Langley is, shock horror, taking the A1(M) down to Hatfield. From here, come off the motorway just after the Hatfield Tunnel and follow the A414 North Orbital Road. As you reach the south side of St Albans at the Park Street roundabout, remain on the North Orbital Road – albeit renumbered as the A405.
You won’t be on this for long, however. At the next roundabout, you’ll be taking the third exit onto Tippendell Lane. After about 0.3 miles, you’ll come to a mini-roundabout outside a Simmons Bakers and tandoori restaurant. Go left here, then right shortly after at the next mini-roundabout for Chiswell Green Lane. Keep going along here, bearing slightly left after about a mile onto what becomes Blunts Lane.
This road will take you across the M1, almost doubling back on yourself with a couple of right bends. The second of these bends will see the road change its name again; this time to Whitehouse Lane. In half a mile more, it becomes Sergehill Lane. All of the name changes!
As you come to a church, make a left turn onto the High Street and continue onto a mini-roundabout. Turn right at this point, which takes you into Toms Lane. After 0.2 miles, a left turn (Meadow Way) will take you down to where you’ll find Bedmond Sports & Social Club.
A small car park can be found at the ground. Bear in mind that nearby streets are residential.
By Rail
Station: ST ALBANS CITY
Services to: LONDON ST PANCRAS
This probably won’t be your ideal away day by rail. The nearest you can get to Abbots Langley on the train will be St Albans City. From there, it’s 25 minutes on the bus (302) to The Leather Bottle pub – and another seven-minute ride on the number 20 bus.