[2] He made his debut for the Tangerines in a 1–0 league defeat at South Shields on 12 March 1921 and scored his first goal for the club in the return match at Bloomfield Road seven days later.

Title chasing Derby required a centre forward after Stan Fazackerley was abruptly forced to retire through injury.

[5] In December 1930, with the prolific Jack Bowers the preferred centre forward, he was transferred to Newcastle United, the 31-year-old costing £4,000 to replace the outgoing Hughie Gallacher on Tyneside.

He was back in the second division for the start of the 1932–33 season, after signing for Bradford Park Avenue where he scored 15 goals in 33 matches.

He made his debut in a friendly match against Sweden on 21 May 1923, included in England's end of season tour of Scandinavia.

His only other England cap came in a British Home Championship match against Ireland on 22 October 1924, at Goodison Park, Liverpool.

[4][5] Bedford was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Bloomfield Road, when it was officially opened by former Blackpool player Jimmy Armfield in April 2006.