Harry Bedford

Henry Bedford (15 October 1899 – 24 June 1976) was an English professional footballer who played as a forward. He scored 308 league goals in 488 league appearances.

Club career 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.

His Rams debut was at the City Ground helping his new side beat his old side 2–1. His home debut came against Swansea, scoring a hat-trick in a 5–0 victory. He hit two more hat-tricks against Stoke City and Sheffield Wednesday as he finished top scorer with 27 goals for the Rams, who won promotion finishing as runners up to Sheffield Wednesday. His form continued in the first division, ending the next four seasons as the club's top scorer. He made 203 league appearances and scored 142 goals and in his 15 FA Cup matches he scored 10 goals.

Career statistics 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. +List of international goals scored by Harry Bedford No. Date Venue Opponent Cap Minute Score Result Competition 1 22 October 1924 Goodison Park, Liverpool, England 2 60' 2*–1 3–1 1924–25 British Home Championship