Didcot Town F.C.

{{short description|Association football club in England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Didcot Town | image = Didcot Town FC crest.svg | image_size = 170px | fullname = Didcot Town Football Club | nickname = Diddy, The Railwaymen, The Artillerymen, The Gunners | founded = 1907 | ground = Loop Meadow Stadium, [[Didcot]] | capacity = 3,000 (350 Seated) | chairman = [[John Bailey (footballer born 1950)|John Bailey]] | mgrtitle = | manager = Jamie Heapy | league = {{English football updater|DidcotTo}} | season = {{English football updater|DidcotTo2}} | position = {{English football updater|DidcotTo3}} |pattern_la1=_red_hoops|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1=_red_hoops|leftarm1=ffffff|body1=FF0000|rightarm1=ffffff|shorts1=ffffff|socks1=FF0000| | pattern_la2 = _fcb1415h | pattern_b2 = _fcb1415h | pattern_ra2 = _fcb1415h | leftarm2 = 000000 | body2 = 000000 | rightarm2 = 000000 | shorts2 = 000000 | socks2 = 000000 }} '''Didcot Town Football Club''' are a [[association football|football]] club based in [[Didcot]] in [[Oxfordshire]], England. The club is affiliated to the [[Berks & Bucks Football Association]]<ref name="helinfo">{{cite web |url=http://www.hellenicleague.co.uk/club_details/didcot.html |title=Uhlsport Hellenic Football League | Club Details | Didcot Town |publisher=Hellenicleague.co.uk |access-date=2012-12-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127093100/http://hellenicleague.co.uk/club_details/didcot.html |archive-date=27 January 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> They won the [[FA Vase]] in 2005 and are currently members of Division One Central of the [[Southern Football League|Southern League]], having been relegated from the Premier Division in 2010–11.<ref name="fchd">{{fchd|name=Didcot Town|id=DIDCOTT}}</ref>

The first team is currently managed by Jamie Heapy and his assistant manager Paul Bedwell.

==History== The club was founded in 1907 and in their early days competed in the [[North Berks League]] from the 1910–11 season.<ref name="bracknelltownfc1">{{cite web |url=http://www.bracknelltownfc.com/rough-guide-to-away-days/away-day-rough-guide-to-didcot-town-reserves/ |title=Away Day Rough Guide to …….. Didcot Town Reserves | Bracknell Town Football Club |publisher=Bracknelltownfc.com |date=5 August 2012 |access-date=2012-12-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217030801/http://www.bracknelltownfc.com/rough-guide-to-away-days/away-day-rough-guide-to-didcot-town-reserves/ |archive-date=17 February 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbfl.co.uk/leaguetabs/1910-1911.asp |title=North Berks Football League |publisher=Nbfl.co.uk |access-date=2012-12-11}}</ref> They left the North Berks league at the end of the 1927–28 campaign and later joined the [[Reading League]] and then the [[Metropolitan League]]. They then became founder members of the [[Hellenic Football League|Hellenic League]] in 1953, where they won the championship at the first attempt.<ref name="earhel">{{cite web |url=http://www.nonleaguematters.net/Regs1SthA/HL53.htm |title=Hellenic League 1953–1972 |publisher=Nonleaguematters.net |access-date=2012-12-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929045407/http://www.nonleaguematters.net/Regs1SthA/HL53.htm |archive-date=29 September 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Although they returned to the Metropolitan League for the 1957–58 season, they rejoined the Hellenic League Premier Division in 1963.<ref name="earhel"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nonleaguematters.net/Regmet/MDL49.htm |title=Metropolitan & District League 1949–1971 |publisher=Nonleaguematters.net |access-date=2012-12-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302061456/http://www.nonleaguematters.net/Regmet/MDL49.htm |archive-date=2 March 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

They spent the next thirteen seasons in the premier division before being relegated to Division one at the end of the 1975–76 season, the same season they made their debut in the [[FA Cup]]; however, they bounced back up as champions of Division one the next season.<ref name="fchd"/> They moved between the Hellenic League's two divisions on two more occasions before they established themselves for the rest of their time in the top flight of the Hellenic league from the 1995–96 season.<ref name="fchd"/> In 2004–05, under manager Stuart Peace, they were only denied the title due to the deduction of one point for fielding an ineligible player in a 1–1 draw at [[Tuffley Rovers F.C.|Tuffley Rovers]] at the start of the season, but made up for it by beating [[A.F.C. Sudbury]] to claim the [[FA Vase]].<ref name="hellater">{{cite web |url=http://www.nonleaguematters.net/Regs1SthA/HL95.htm |title=Hellenic League 1995–2011 |publisher=Nonleaguematters.net |access-date=2012-12-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927111931/http://www.nonleaguematters.net/Regs1SthA/HL95.htm |archive-date=27 September 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.napit.co.uk/viewus/infobank/football/favase.php |title=The FA Vase History and Previous Winners |publisher=Napit.co.uk |access-date=2012-12-11}}</ref><ref name="man">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/9371731.stm |title=Stuart Peace resigns as Didcot Town boss |publisher=BBC News |date=24 January 2011 |access-date=2012-12-11}}</ref> The following season they finally claimed the league title, becoming the first team in Hellenic League history to accrue 100 points in a season, and were thus promoted to the Southern League Division One South & West.<ref name="hellater"/>

In May 2009, they gained promotion to the [[Southern Football League Premier Division]], when they beat AFC Totton 2–1 after extra time in the play-off final.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/8036542.stm |title=BBC SPORT | Football | Non League | Peace to stay as Didcot manager |publisher=BBC News |date=7 May 2009 |access-date=2012-12-11}}</ref> Didcot reached the play-offs after finishing fifth in the league and, in consecutive matches, beating the first- ([[Truro City F.C.|Truro City]]), second- ([[Windsor & Eton F.C. (1892)|Windsor and Eton]]) and third-placed ([[AFC Totton]]) teams, all away from home.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/8017430.stm |title=BBC SPORT | Football | Non League | Truro City 2–4 Didcot Town |publisher=BBC News |date=26 April 2009 |access-date=2012-12-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/8024555.stm |title=BBC SPORT | Football | Non League | Didcot through to play-off final |publisher=BBC News |date=29 April 2009 |access-date=2012-12-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/8031004.stm |title=BBC SPORT | Football | Non League | Didcot victory seals promotion |publisher=BBC News |date=2 May 2009 |access-date=2012-12-11}}</ref> The 2010–11 season saw long-term manager Stuart Peace leave the club in January, to be replaced by [[Ady Williams]]; however, he could not save them from relegation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13198013 |title=BBC Sport – Didcot Town relegated from Zamaretto Premier Division |publisher=BBC |date=26 April 2011 |access-date=2012-12-11}}</ref>

Williams resigned in May 2011 to be replaced by Francis Vines, but he only stayed until September 2011, after a poor start to the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13470748 |title=BBC Sport – Ady Williams resigns as Didcot Town manager |publisher=BBC |date=20 May 2011 |access-date=2012-12-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13695014 |title=BBC Sport – Didcot Town appoint Francis Vines as new manager |publisher=BBC |date=8 June 2011 |access-date=2012-12-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/15053259 |title=BBC Sport – Francis Vines resigns as Didcot Town manager |publisher=BBC |date=25 September 2011 |access-date=2012-12-11}}</ref> He was replaced with Dave Mudge, who guided the club to the first round of the [[FA Trophy]] for the first time, but resigned at the start of the 2012–13 season for personal reasons to be replaced by [[Gary Elkins (footballer)|Gary Elkins]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/9602424.stm |title=New Didcot Town manager Dave Mudge wants improvements |publisher=BBC News |date=28 September 2011 |access-date=2012-12-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/9903122.FOOTBALL__Boss_Mudge_quits_in_Didcot_bombshell/ |title=FOOTBALL: Boss Mudge quits in Didcot bombshell (From Oxford Mail) |publisher=Oxfordmail.co.uk |date=31 August 2012 |access-date=2012-12-11}}</ref>

Elkins was replaced by former Didcot FA Vase winners Ian Concannon and Jamie Heapy, who were appointed as joint managers in November 2013 .<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldseries.co.uk/sport/10790310.FOOTBALL__Legends_Concannon___Heapy_take_charge_of_Didcot_Town/?ref=rss |title=FOOTBALL: Legends Concannon & Heapy take charge of Didcot Town (From Herald Series) |date=6 November 2013 |publisher=Heraldseries.co.uk |access-date=2015-11-08}}</ref>

The football club gained nationwide attention when it reached the [[2015–16 FA Cup#First round proper|FA Cup first round proper]] in season 2015–16 and was awarded a home tie with [[Exeter City FC|Exeter City]], which was shown live on [[BT Sport]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sport.bt.com/video/highlights-didcot-town-0-3-exeter-city-91364015422092 |title=Highlights: Didcot Town 0-3 Exeter City |publisher=BT Sport |date=8 November 2015 |access-date=12 March 2016}}</ref> At the end of the [[2018–19 Southern Football League|2018–19 season]], Didcot reappointed Jamie Heapy as their first team manager after Andy Ballard resigned.<ref>[https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/didcottown/news/diddy-appoint-heapy-2425377.html Jamie Heapy appointed as manager] pitchero.com/clubs/didcottown, 12 April 2019</ref>

The [[2022–23 Southern Football League#Division One Central|2022–23 season]] saw Didcot Town promoted back to the Premier Division having defeated [[Ware F.C.|Ware]] in the play-off final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/didcottown/news/didcot-town-10-ware-diddy-promoted-after-tense-playoff-final-2777619.html|title=DIDCOT TOWN 1-0 WARE: DIDDY PROMOTED AFTER TENSE PLAY-OFF FINAL|publisher=Didcot Town|date=2 May 2023|accessdate=2 April 2024}}</ref>

==Stadium== Didcot have played at Loop Meadow on the town's Ladygrove estate after the sale of their former Station Road ground in 1999.<ref name="bracknelltownfc1"/> The ground boasts a main pitch and a training pitch, with the main pitch having a 150-seat main stand and a covered standing area. Their previous ground is now the site of a large car park for the town's recently built shopping centre. Loop Meadow attracted its biggest crowd of 2,707 in 2015 when [[EFL League Two|League Two]] side Exeter City visited in the FA Cup first round.

The ground has been upgraded to meet FA Ground Specifications. Two 175 standing terraces have been erected to the Railway End and 100 seats have been added into the Main Stand.

==Players== ===First-team squad===

{{fs start|nonumber=|bg=FFF300|color=001958|border=001958}} {{Fs player|no=1|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=[[Leigh Bedwell]]}} {{Fs player|no=5|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Adam Learoyd]]}} {{Fs player|no=6|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Luke Carnell]]}} {{Fs player|no=7|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Cameron Mills]]}} {{Fs player|no=10|nat=CMR|pos=MF|name=[[JP. Nyuysemo]]}} {{Fs player|no=11|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Tyger-J Hall]]}} {{fs end}}

==Honours==

===League honours=== *'''[[Hellenic Football League]] Premier Division '''<ref name="fchd"/> ** Winners (2): 1953–54, 2005–06 ** Runners-up (1): 2004–05 *'''[[Hellenic Football League]] Division One'''<ref name="fchd"/> ** Winners (1): 1976–77 *'''[[Reading League|Reading & District league]] Division One'''<ref name="hons">{{cite web|url=http://www.didcottownfc.com//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=264 |title=Honours |publisher=Didcot Town FC |date=18 May 2006 |access-date=2012-12-13}}</ref> ** Winners (1): 1935–36

===Cup honours=== *'''[[FA Vase]]''':<ref name="fchd"/> ** Winners (1): 2004–05 *'''Berks & Bucks FA Senior Trophy''':<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hellenicleague.co.uk/stats/0001stats.html# |title=Uhlsport Hellenic Football League | Statistics | Season 2000 – 2001 |publisher=Hellenicleague.co.uk |access-date=2012-12-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fchd.info/cups/berksbuckssummary.htm |title=Football Club History Database – Berks & Bucks County Cups |publisher=Fchd.info |access-date=2012-12-13}}</ref> ** Winners (3): 2001–02, 2002–03, 2005–06 *'''[[Hellenic Football League]] Challenge Cup''':<ref name="hons"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hellenicleague.co.uk/stats/0304stats.html |title=Uhlsport Hellenic Football League | Statistics | Season 2003–2004 |publisher=Hellenicleague.co.uk |access-date=2012-12-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hellenicleague.co.uk/stats/0405stats.html |title=Uhlsport Hellenic Football League | Statistics | Season 2004–2005 |publisher=Hellenicleague.co.uk |access-date=2012-12-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005080650/http://hellenicleague.co.uk/stats/0405stats.html |archive-date=5 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hellenicleague.co.uk/stats/0506stats.html |title=Uhlsport Hellenic Football League | Statistics | Season 2005–2006 |publisher=Hellenicleague.co.uk |access-date=2012-12-13}}</ref><ref name="hist">{{cite web |url=http://www.didcottownfc.com//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=56&Itemid=262 |title=The History of Didcot Town Football Club |publisher=Didcot Town FC |date=18 May 2006 |access-date=2012-12-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308031333/http://www.didcottownfc.com//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=56&Itemid=262 |archive-date=8 March 2012 }}</ref> ** Winners (7): 1965–66, 1966–67, 1991–92, 1997–98, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06 ** Runners-up (1): 1953–54 *'''[[Hellenic Football League]] Supplementary Cup''':<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hellenicleague.co.uk/stats/0203stats.html |title=Uhlsport Hellenic Football League | Statistics | Season 2002–2003 |publisher=Hellenicleague.co.uk |access-date=2012-12-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127091848/http://hellenicleague.co.uk/stats/0203stats.html |archive-date=27 January 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ** Winners (2): 1976–77, 2002–03 *'''[[Hellenic Football League]] Division one Challenge Cup''':<ref name="hist"/> ** Winners (2): 1976–77, 1986–87 *'''[[Metropolitan League]] Cup''':<ref name="hist"/> ** Runners-up (1): 1961–62 *''' Hungerford Cup''':<ref name="hist"/> ** Winners (1): 1997–98 *'''Reading Mercury Cup''':<ref name="hons"/> ** Winners (1): 1978–79 *'''Didcot Festival Cup''':<ref name="hons"/> ** Winners (1): 1957–58 *''' Dale Robers Memorial Cup''':<ref name="hist"/> ** Winners (1): 2016–17

==Records==

*'''Highest League Position''':<ref name="fchd"/> 15th in Southern League Premier Division 2009–10 *'''[[FA Cup]] best performance''':<ref name="fchd"/> First round 2015–16 *'''[[FA Trophy]] best performance''':<ref name="fchd"/> First round 2011–12, 2014–15 *'''[[FA Vase]] best performance''':<ref name="fchd"/> Winners 2004–05 *'''Highest Attendance for Competitive match''':<ref name="helinfo"/> ([[FA Cup]]):<ref name="helinfo"/> 2,707 vs [[Exeter City F.C.|Exeter City]] 8 November 2015 *'''Highest Attendance for Competitive Cup match ([[FA Cup]])''':<ref name="helinfo"/> 2,707 vs [[Exeter City F.C.|Exeter City]] 8 November 2015

==Former players== {{Further|Category:Didcot Town F.C. players}}

==Former coaches== # Managers/Coaches that have played/managed in the football league or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league). # Managers/Coaches with full international caps.

* {{flagicon|IRE}} [[Peter Foley (footballer)|Peter Foley]] * {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Ady Williams]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{official website|http://www.didcottownfc.co.uk/}}

{{Southern League}} {{coord|51|36|50.771|N|1|14|23.050|W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=title}}

[[Category:Men's football clubs in England]] [[Category:Southern Football League clubs]] [[Category:Hellenic Football League]] [[Category:Association football clubs established in 1907]] [[Category:Football clubs in Oxfordshire]] [[Category:Metropolitan League]] [[Category:1907 establishments in England]] [[Category:Didcot]]