| Clubname: | Bedlington United |
| Fullname: | Bedlington United Association Football Club |
| Nickname: | Terriers |
| Founded: | by 1897 |
| Dissolved: | 1938 |
| League: | Northern Alliance |
| Season: | 1937–38 |
| Position: | Northern Alliance, 20th |
| Pattern La1: | _red_stripes |
| Pattern B1: | _red_stripes |
| Pattern Ra1: | _red_stripes |
| Leftarm1: | ffffff |
| Body1: | ffffff |
| Rightarm1: | ffffff |
| Shorts1: | 000000 |
| Socks1: | 000000 |
Bedlington United A.F.C. was an English association football club based in the town of Bedlington, Northumberland.
Bedlington United was formed in or before 1897,[1] and in that year became a founder member of the East Northumberland Combination.[2] The team played in the East Northumberland League from 1902,[1] and their 1907–08 league title preceded election to the Northern Alliance.[3] [1] Bedlington regularly finished in mid-table in the seasons running up to the war; their best result was fourth in 1911–12.[4]
Bedlington continued in the Northern Alliance for one post-war season and were then accepted into the North-Eastern League.[5] They finished bottom in their first season, but were reprieved by four teams leaving to join the newly formed Football League Third Division North, and continued in mid-table or below until 1929–30, when a bottom-place finish meant they were relegated to the North-Eastern League Second Division.[6] Runners-up spots in 1934 and 1935 did not bring promotion, and when the North-Eastern League reverted to a single division, Bedlington joined the re-formed Northern Alliance.[7] [5] They struggled on for two seasons, but after a third in which they finished bottom of the table,[7] conceded eight goals both at home and away to Newcastle United "A",[8] failed to win away from home until the penultimate match of the season,[9] and had three players fail to turn up for the last home fixture,[10] the club resigned. Its structure as a limited liability company combined with a longstanding lack of interest from the shareholders had made it impossible to continue. A public meeting agreed to set up a new club with the intention of replacing it in the Northern Alliance,[11] but there were five clubs applying for three vacancies and Bedlington were unsuccessful.[12]
Bedlington United first entered the FA Cup in 1908–09, and entered every season until 1927–28; their last participation was in 1935–36. Their best performance was in 1926–27, when they reached the second round proper before losing heavily to North-Eastern League rivals Carlisle United.[13] [14] They beat favourites Blyth Spartans 5–0 to win the Northumberland Senior Cup for the first time in 1923, and won it again in 1928.[15] [16]
The club wore the same colours as Sunderland A.F.C., namely red and white striped shirts and black shorts.[17]
The club originally played at Hollymount, building a stand there in 1913, and the sale of advertising space within the ground contributed to the club's finances.[1] However, the land was requisitioned in 1920 by the local council for house building, and the club moved to a site in Church Lane to be known as Burdon Park.[18]