9th tier club Real Bedford receive an injection of £3.6m from billionaire pair of cryptocurrency investors, Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss.
Real Bedford FC, formerly Bedford FC, has recently secured a substantial financial boost of $4.5m (approximately £3.6m) through an investment from Winklevoss Capital, an investment firm owned by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, who are also the founders of Gemini.
This injection of funds marks a significant milestone for the club. In 2021, Peter McCormack, a renowned podcaster, acquired RBFC with the ambitious vision of transforming it into a Premier League club.
With this recent investment, the Winklevoss twins will join McCormack as co-owners of the club, further strengthening its financial backing and potential for growth.
Real Bedford currently sit top of the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division with 86 points from 33 games played, with Milton Keynes Irish sitting 2nd with 81 points from the same about of matches played.
🗞 Club Statement:
“Real Bedford can confirm that the Winklevoss Twins have agreed to invest $4.5m into the club.
This will see Cameron and Tyler become co-owners of RBFC alongside Peter McCormack.”
Learn more here 👇
— Real Bedford FC (@realbedford) April 12, 2024
View this post on Instagram
STATEMENT:
Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss invest $4.5M of Bitcoin into Real Bedford, becoming Co-Owners with Peter McCormack
Winklevoss Capital, the investment firm owned by Gemini founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, has made a $4.5M bitcoin investment into Real Bedford FC, the ambitious football club acquired by Bedford resident, podcaster, and journalist Peter McCormack. Following this investment, Cameron and Tyler will assume the role of co-owners of RBFC alongside Peter McCormack.
Peter McCormack is a Bedford resident who is well known for his podcast “What Bitcoin Did.” Since purchasing RBFC in 2021, he has made significant progress towards his goal of leading the team into the Premier League. Real Bedford won a promotion from the 10th tier to the 9th tier in their debut season and are currently at the top of the table this season, looking to achieve a back- to-back promotion from the 9th tier to the 8th tier.
Cameron, Tyler, and Peter all share a deep conviction in bitcoin and its ability to help supercharge RBFC’s quest to make it into the Premier League. Tyler and Cameron also understand first-hand the transformative power of sport. To that end, this investment will continue to support RBFC’s community-building approach to football now and in the future. And it follows a long-term partnership between Gemini and RBFC after initially announcing Gemini’s sponsorship of the football club in January 2022, and will be deployed strategically through the following initiatives:
– The establishment of a bitcoin treasury to secure the club’s long-term ambitions
– The development of a new training center
– The launch of a football academy to nurture local talent
– Continued support for girls’ and youth football
– An increase in funding for the club’s hardship fund, which will ensure that no child in Bedford misses out on the opportunity to play football due to economic reasons
Tyler Winklevoss said:
“We share in Peter’s deep conviction in bitcoin and its ability to supercharge RBFC’s quest to make it into the Premier League. Since our first conversation more than two years ago, Peter has proven he knows how to build a successful club and we’re excited to work alongside him as co-owners.”
Peter McCormack commented:
“This has been a great few years for the club as we hit all of our growth goals and supported the community in a sustainable way. The demands of a fast-growing club are significant, and the backing from Tyler and Cameron will allow us to continue investing in Bedford and the local community”
RBFC reflects the community nature of bitcoin by developing local Bedford talent and fostering a welcoming and supportive environment, creating opportunities for aspiring footballers, and promoting the sport’s growth within the Bedford region. This year RBFC introduced the Real Bedford Ladies, who are also likely to achieve promotion to the next tier and sit at the top of their league.
Cameron Winklevoss added:
“Seeing the progress Peter has made with Real Bedford and his community-building approach has truly been inspiring. His ability to translate vision into action is exactly why we believe in this project. We’re not just investing in a football club, we’re investing in a dream to bring Premier League football to Bedford. We firmly believe Peter is the right leader to make this dream a reality”
For further details and inquiries, please contact Will Roberts, Head of Media and Communications at Real Bedford FC, via will@realbedford.com.
Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division
ABOUT REAL BEDFORD FC
Real Bedford FC is a non-league football club based in Bedford. Acquired by Peter McCormack in 2021, he set the ambitious goal of getting the team into the football league. After rebranding as Real Bedford, they won a league and cup double in their first season and have been promoted to the Spartan South Midlands Premier League.
The club prides itself on its strong and growing community ties and dedication to developing local talent. With a focus on fostering an inclusive and supportive environment, Real Bedford FC aims to create opportunities for aspiring footballers and promote the sport’s growth within the Bedford region.
About Winklevoss Capital
Winklevoss Capital is Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss’s family office. Known for their influential role in the technology and finance sectors, the Winklevoss twins are committed to supporting innovative solutions that redefine industries and drive societal progress.
This is how Twitter users reacted as 9th tier club Real Bedford receive an injection of £3.6m from a billionaire pair of cryptocurrency investors…
@chullybee: This is MAD news! Congrats 👏 👏
@Elliot_2008: Not bad money that
@RealBedfordFan: Huge news! Congrats you Pirates 🏴☠️ 🍾
@SteveKuhne: Fair play to you all. I hope it works out for you
@StuartR07164184: Cue the haters of @realbedford . @PeterMcCormack set a vision out for the club and no one can argue they’ve done all they can to deliver on it. Personally fair play to them. It’s impressive what they’re doing and I hope they succeed. Jealousy is an ugly trait.
@joefriess: I guarantee many of those giving this hate have no idea just how much Peter has done for Bedford and how he very much is doing things ‘the right way’. Long may it continue.
@CCFCMando: Crypto giants investing millions in a 9th tier English football club is insanity. Basically a free pass to fly up the leagues.
@CardyFreddie: Leroy Lita currently putting Bedford into his satnav
@ltfcocr__: can’t believe these lot are gonna be turning us over in the bedfordshire derby soon ffs
@GraemeWilding: This is amazing news not only for @realbedford but also @RBFCLadies, all the girls teams but for the Town & surrounding areas! #UpThePirates 🏴☠️
@mkcobbler: This is incredible
@simonttrigg: Wow that’s unreal and amazing for Non- League……… let’s hope this is another Wrexham story and with that sort of initial investment should be playing league football within the next few years if management, board and players are correct…… 👍 👏 ⚽️
@PIRATESNITRO: Up the Pirates!!!
@george_brinkman: Imagine all the macron kit that will buy 👚👕
@LeeCotton1: That’s next year’s SLD1C title sorted already.
@lucasbha1: I give them 8 years to get to the National League
@jamieltfc: $4.5mil 🤣 for reference that’s almost equal to Luton Towns record transfer fee ahahaha
@JackToulson12: Trust me, Bedford needs more than 4.5m.. If you’ve ever been you’ll know why
@lozfitzuk: Wow that is incredible, already taking it to the next level. Good luck to them
@TheShoeArmy1897:That is a real cash injection at that level… wow
@Gurnery_: This much money being put into a 9th tier club is a sugar daddy FM moment.
@Mark__James: Great development for @realbedford and the town 👏 👏
@mattitude_29: 🤑 they’ll be in the EFL before we know it 🤣
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