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US investment in English football is nothing new, but doing so in the eighth tier certainly is.
That’s no deterrent for Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, though, who have finalised a £3.58m investment in Real Bedford FC.
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Should those names sound familiar, they may be best known to readers from the movie The Social Network, where their early role in Facebook was portrayed by Armie Hammer.
The twins, who unsuccessfully sued Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in 2004, have since gone on to found cryptocurrency exchange Gemini and have a net worth of £2.14billion.
Their deal in Real Bedford sees them take a 45 per cent stake in the club to become co-owners.
Former US Olympic rowers, they will work alongside chairman Peter McCormack who is a cryptocurrency podcaster.
Such an ascent seems like a lofty ambition for Real Bedford, although they’re already on the way up, top of the Southern League Division One Central after back-to-back promotions.
Discussing a potential investment last year, Cameron Winklevoss said: "We believe that Real Bedford has the ability to defy the odds, upset the establishment and dethrone incumbents.
"We love underdog stories that have the ability to literally change the game."
He continued: “Peter has a strong ‘why’. As a lifelong Bedford resident, bringing a Premier League team to Bedford has been a childhood dream of his. His mission is clear and authentic. We love builders who have a strong ‘why’.”
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McCormack bought the club in 2021, when they were known as Bedford United, and changed their name, placing cryptocurrency at the centre of their model.
According to The Times, the Winklevoss brothers did not know the difference between the Premier League and the Football League when he first pitched the idea.
McCormack said: “I went back to them and said, ‘Look I’ve got an idea. I think I can take a team from the bottom of the English Football League to the top and I think I can do it using bitcoin."
Rob Hepburn, a lawyer who advised the brothers, said: “It’s a really exciting time for the lower leagues of football in England. We’ve seen the success that Salford City and Wrexham have had with big injections of cash and Real Bedford look set to continue the trend."
He added: “They intend to be hands-on, working alongside co-owner, Peter McCormack, who already has made huge strides with the club and with whom the twins have formed a great working relationship.”
The Winklevoss twins follow a long line of North American celebrities to get involved in English football, with Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney taking over Wrexham in February 2021.
The Hollywood duo have since led the Welsh side from the fifth tier semi-professional National League to the third tier professional League One, and they’re now battling for Championship promotion.
Following Reynolds' and McElhenney’s UK investment was NFL legend Tom Brady who bought a stake in Birmingham City, while rapper A$AP Rocky has been linked to investment in Tranmere Rovers.
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Actor Michael B. Jordan also has a stake in Premier League side Bournemouth, while American investment is nothing new in the top flight.
The Friedkin Group’s December takeover of Everton made it ten US owners in the Premier League, while Championship promotion challengers Leeds and Burnley also have American majority owners.
