Bedford’s Adamson Attributes Championship Try Record to Resilience

Dean Adamson, a wing for Bedford Blues, has attributed his achievement of becoming the all-time leading try scorer in the Championship’s history to his resilience and willpower. He has scored 106 tries across 147 Championship games. The 31-year-old Adamson secured his 106th try in 147 Championship matches, surpassing the previous record with two tries during a 34-18 home victory against Doncaster in October. His rugby journey began at age five, followed by joining the Blues Academy at 17 and making his senior debut five years subsequent to that. While he had short periods with Rouen in France and Ampthill, he has dedicated a decade to playing for the Blues at Goldington Road. Speaking to BBC Look East, Adamson stated, “The record means a lot, no-one can take it away from me.” He further commented on his team, saying, “I play with amazing players and we play a great brand of rugby. We throw the ball about and wingers like me get to score tries.” Reflecting on his connection to the club, he added, “I remember walking through the gates here for the first time as a teenager. I love the crowd having my back. It’s such a special place. It’s a great league and it’s undervalued. There’s nothing better than singing with your team-mates and enjoying a beer in the changing room when you win.” Adamson, who trains three times weekly with the Blues, a semi-professional team competing in the second-tier Championship (established in 1987), balances his rugby career with a role in property management. He acknowledged experiencing difficult periods throughout his playing career. He remarked, “People see your tries but they don’t see the downs. When you have a bad game, you can let it fester. You end up looking over tapes, but you ultimately have to back yourself if you know you’re doing the right things and stick at it. You need willpower to keep going and you need resilience.” Adamson attributes his success, in part, to his commitment to physical self-care. He explained, “I watched [England wing] Jonny May constantly focusing on stretching, so after a double hip operation I came up with my own routine. It is so important. I work on my speed constantly too. There’s always another young lad quicker than you.” Adamson’s remaining ambition is to become the club’s all-time record try scorer, a title currently held by Derek Wyatt since the 1970s, with Wyatt having scored 145 tries in 152 games. Adamson commented, “I am proud to play for this town and Goldington Road is home. It’s made me who I am. The record is a proud thing for me and my family and I’m not done yet.” Mike Rayer, the director of rugby, whose team currently ranks third in the Championship after five rounds of matches, expressed his approval, stating, “It’s brilliant for him [to have the record], he’s grown year on year, he’s a senior player and keeps on scoring. He’s great company in the changing rooms and, on the pitch, speaks for itself – a great guy to have around. He’s very coachable, he’s been here since the academy days. He always listens and contributes. He’s a Bedfordshire boy and it’s a great story.”