Match Information

  • Punjab Lions Bedford 2-0 Leamington Khalsa

  • When: Sunday 10th July 2022

  • Kick-off: 11am 

  • Where: Hillgrounds Playing Fields, Hillgrounds Road, Kempston, Bedfordshire MK42 8QG

  • Competition: Khalsa Football Federation Bedford Tournament Division One Semi-Final

  • Attendance: 69


The Khalsa Football Federation was formed in 1987 for the UK-based Sikh community. Various tournaments are run throughout the summer at venues across the country.

These are extremely well-organised, catering for both junior (under-9’s upwards) and senior footballers. There is also an over-35’s ‘Veterans’ section.

Games are played over a weekend with fixtures spread across the Saturday and Sunday commencing really early at 9am. Teams are split into various divisions depending on ability.

Diary of a Groundhopper Punjab


The more successful sides can face a hectic timetable of four full 90 minute games in just two days with the possibility of extra-time and penalties as well. I wonder what leading Premier League managers would say about a schedule like that!

In the past, I have seen matches at the Khalsa Tournaments staged in East London, West London, Walsall and Leicester. I have found that the football action has been fiercely competitive.

Overall these events have a lovely carnival atmosphere with hundreds of people present. An array of tents circle around the pitches selling refreshments and showcasing the businesses who have given their support.

Ground Description

This particular tournament was organised in conjunction with the Shaheedi Sports Council Bedford who do a lot of good work locally.

Five pitches were marked out at Hillgrounds Playing Fields for the various matches with another pitch across the road in Addison Howard Park.

The tournament finals were played adjacent to the playing fields at the main Kempston Rovers FC stadium.

Programme Details

Normally a full glossy programme is issued for each of these Khalsa Tournaments with plenty of interesting background information.

However, there wasn’t one published at Bedford although a colour poster was available and that made a worthwhile souvenir of the occasion for me.

It stated that the weekend’s activities also included athletics, volleyball and tug-of-war as well as the football.

The Match

I wanted to see the local team - Punjab Lions Bedford FC – in action as I knew they would attract decent support. PLB are members of the Bedford & District Sunday Football League.

So when I arrived at Hillgrounds Playing Fields, I went straight to the Khalsa Tournament organisers’ information tent where all the fixtures were being collated.

The very helpful guys there pointed me in the direction of ‘Pitch 1’ where PLB’s appetising Division One Semi-Final was taking place.

Diary of a Groundhopper


Their opponents Leamington Khalsa FC are from the Leamington & District Sunday League. This turned out to be a tight match in extremely hot weather conditions.

It was scoreless at half-time but PLB stepped things up a notch in the second half to secure a 2-0 victory.

This was thanks to a couple of well-taken strikes by Raheem Jabbar on 50 and 74 minutes. PLB were roared on by their passionate fans who celebrated wildly when the goals flew in. 

The People

I recognised the assistant referee running the line at my match and had a really good chat with him.

Diary of a Groundhopper Jarnail Singh


He is former Football League ref Jarnail Singh and he has always officiated very well when I have seen him in action. A nice approachable guy too.

Jarnail’s sons - Sunny and Bhupsy Gill – have both followed in the family tradition to become football referees. 


*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to @TonyIncenzo*

 

FIRST PUBLISHED: 22nd July 2022

Tony is an experienced football broadcaster who has worked for Clubcall, Capital Gold, IRN Sport, talkSPORT Radio and Sky TV. 

His devotion to Queens Park Rangers saw him reach 50 years without missing a home game in April 2023.

Tony is also a Non-League football expert having visited more than 2,500 different football grounds in his matchday groundhopping.

You can follow Tony on Twitter at @TonyIncenzo.