bedford athletic won the first ever bedfordshire cup competition in season 1971–72 defeating colmworth house in the final. the same year the club progressed to the east midlands cup final at franklins gardens although this time without success losing out to rushden. bedford athletic competed in the first four finals of the bedfordshire cup winning the trophy again in 1975. success in the east midlands cup had to wait until 1983 when that trophy was carried off for the first time with a victory over peterborough.