On Sunday 16th February AFC Oakley Blues & AFC Oakley Whites competed in the Vets League Cup & League Trophy Finals.

This was the first time in the clubs history we had made it to the finals and not been knocked out in the group stages.

League Trophy Final

AFC Oakley Whites (Goodacres) we’re up first in the League Trophy against AFC Awareness Vets. Whites took an early lead through James Hardy with a close range half volley finish, we continued our dominence and control of the game with a second goal from Chris Bell with a delightful bit of skill and a sublime lob of their keeper.

Whites from that point on controlled the rest of the game and continued to generate chances and could have been 3-0 up was it not for some great goalkeeping from the Awareness keeper.

FT : AFCO Whites 2-0 AFC Awareness Vets

League Cup Final

AFC Oakley Blues (Bedford Bi-Folds) we’re up next in the League Cup Final against a very good Southern League Champions – Latino Heat A.

This was always going to be a close game with probably the best teams of the Northern and Southern Vets leagues coming head-to-head.

It was a hugely competitive game and Blues seemed to be on top and in control of the game until they we’re penalised by the referee with two sin bins.

One for a suspected slide tackle from Joe Bradbury and another for a foul from Rocco who had been kicked and fouled multiple times already that evening. The blues now had to play with seven men for 5 minutes.

Latino couldn’t make the extra two men count and once Blues we’re back to full stength of nine players they made it count and took their chance with a great team goal and finish from Matt Nolan.

Blues took control of the game from there on and saw out the win to become League Cup Winners.

FT : AFCO Blues 1-0 Latino Heat A

What is the Bedfordshire 9 a-side Veterans League?

It is a 9 a-side league and cup competition played on 3G/4G artificial grass pitches every other Sunday evening. Games are split into two 25 minute halves. You must be 35 or over to play. Normal football rules apply, but no off sides and no slide tackles.

The league has proved to be popular, competitive and of a very high standard, especially over the last two seasons.  There has been some great football on show and some well known local players have rolled back the years. Teams range from a group of youth team managers, work mates, old team mates and others who have previously hung their boots up and have been tempted back into playing.

For the 2023/24 Season AFC Oakley Blues Vets became Northern League Champions with only 1 loss and a draw and Whites finished a respectable fifth place.

For 2024/25 Season, we have again entered both teams and hope to retain our Vets title with Blues currently sitting top of the league.

Come on you OAKS!