Harry Bedford

Harry Bedford began his playing career playing with hometown club Bonds Main FC and then joined his older brother Walter, at Grassmoor Ivanhoe FC in the Chesterfield League. It was here both brothers were invited for trials with Nottingham Forest FC in 1916. During the war years Harry made two appearances for Forest and also played in a match for Huddersfield Town. Second division Forest signed Harry as a professional after the war in August 1919. He made 5 appearances and scored 3 goals in his first season and after scoring 5 in 13 matches of the 1920–21 season, he left for Blackpool on 8 March 1921, for a fee of £1,200. He made his debut for the Tangerines in a 1–0 league defeat at South Shields on 12 March 1921 and scored his first goal for the club in the return match at Bloomfield Road seven days later. In 1921–22, his first full season, he managed 11 goals and scored in their one FA Cup match. The following two years saw him finish the season as not only Blackpool's top scorer but also the football leagues. In the 1922–23 season he played in all 42 league games and scored 32 goals, then one better in 1923–24, the country's top scorer with 33 goals, a feat which only Jimmy Hampson equalled. In 1924–25, Bedford's goals helped Blackpool reach the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time and he scored 24 goals in 40 league games. Bedford started the 1925–26 season scoring 6 goals in 7 matches, before he was transferred to Derby County for £3,900 on 25 September 1925.…

Bedford was capped twice for England. He made his debut in a friendly match against Sweden on 21 May 1923, included in England's end of season tour of Scandinavia. England won 4–2. His only other England cap came in a British Home Championship match against Ireland on 22 October 1924, at Goodison Park, Liverpool. He scored England's second goal in a 3–1 victory.

In October 1937 he joined the backroom staff at Newcastle United as a masseur and later took the same position at Derby County. He moved into management in 1954 with Belper Town before making a return to Heanor Town, a position he held until he resigned in 1955.

Club statistics

International statistics

International goals

Scores and results list England's goal tally first. Score after each Bedford goal is shown in bold with asterisk.