May

May 2005 News

Thursday 26th May 2005

The season finally came to an end yesterday with the end-of-season Presentation Evening at the Loop. A thoroughly enjoyable occasion, here is a full list of the award winners:

U16 players' player: Wayne Shears.

U16 manager's player: Luke Morley.

U18 players' player: Josh McInnerny.

U18 manager's player: Adam Bailey.

Young players of year: Josh McInnerny & Billy Warner.

Reserve team players' player: Phil Thomas.

Reserve team manager's player: Phil Thomas.

1st team players' player: Danny Campbell.

1st team manager's player: Whole team.

Supporter's player: Jamie Heapy

Clubman of the year: Justin Lambourne.

Congratulations also to Stuart Beavon who this week leant that he has been nominated the season's Player of the FA Vase. well done also to Ian Concannon who was the Hellenic League's Golden Boot winner for the 4th season in a row!

Thursday 26th May 2005

Don't forget you can still purchase your replica FA Vase Final shirt at the bargain price of £26. There are also a handful of limited Edition enamel badges remaining - please note we will NOT be getting any more so don't miss your chance. All merchandise available from the club during weekday evenings.

Tuesday 24th May 2005

	We can now confirm a number of pre-season friendlies (see above forthcoming fixtures table). We kick-off with a home match against a promised strong Reading side prior to them going away on a tour of Scandinavia.
	Next up is FA Vase champions of 2004 Winchester City, also at the Loop, before 3 away games at Newbury, Banbury and Uxbridge. We then have Tooting & Mitcham who knocked us out of the FA Cup last season at home. At least one other match is yet to be confirmed.

Sunday 22nd May 2005

	Despite dreadful weather the townsfolk of Didcot came out in their hundreds on Friday evening to catch a glimpse of the team, and the Vase, on the Open Top bus trip around the town.
	The club were also welcomed by the town council and mayor for a civic reception at the civic hall. Many thanks to them for a great evening enjoyed by all.
	Didcot supporters are urged to get voting for Stuart Beavon as the Player of the Vase 2005 - he is the last nomination in the Carlsberg sponsored competition for his two goal show in the Final. Voting can be done online at www.thenlp.net or by e-mail to nga@greenwaysmedia.co.uk (make sure you put FA Vase nomination in the subject heading)
	The last club event of the season is the Player's Presentation dinner next Friday. Details of all the award winners will be posted here after the event.
	Please also note that we have some mouth watering pre-season friendlies lined up in July/August. They include at home to a full strength Reading side and Winchester City (last season's Vase winners), and away to Banbury Utd. Others to be confirmed along with dates.
	Please check this site throughout the summer for the latest transfer news etc. We should soon be getting a new website design which will (hopefully) be a great improvement. Exciting times indeed...

Thursday 19th May 2005

	Tomorrow ( Friday 20th May) the town of Didcot will be able to show their appreciation of the players of Didcot Town FC during an open top bus tour of the town centre between 7pm and 7.30pm. At the same time I know that the lads will want to thank everyone who made such a contribution to the historic win at White Hart Lane last weekend. Both the BBC and ITV Central are expecting to cover the story between 6pm and 6.45pm so why not watch the box and then head off down the Broadway for what should be a fantastic celebration. Don't miss it!
	The Didcot Herald has once again come up trumps with a superb 8 page pull-out today with fantastic pictures and memories of the cup final. We also made the front page so please make sure you get your copy asap (they're running out, not surprisingly).
	New MP for Wantage and Didcot Ed Vaizey has promised to pass a motion in the House of Commons congratulating the club and the town. He even promised to wear a RED club tie which takes some bottle on the Tory back-benches!

Tuesday 17th May 2005


	Stuart Beavon turns to celebrate his stoppage time strike on Saturday (Pic Darrell Fisher)
	This coming Friday (20th May) the players will be attending a civic reception at the civic hall in the evening. While that will be behind closed doors please note the lads will be travelling from the Loop into town on an open top bus. This will allow them to show their appreciation to the supporters that roared them to glory at White hart Lane, and also the people of Didcot to give them another cheer. One player who will be absent however is two goal hero Stuart Beavon who flies away on holiday today.

	Bev is mobbed (Pic D Fisher)

DIDCOT TOWN ARE FA VASE WINNERS 2005

Didcot Town FC are today basking in the glory of becoming FA Vase Champions 2005 thanks to a brilliant, and thoroughly deserved, 3-2 win against AFC Sudbury at White Hart Lane yesterday.

Sudbury suffered the heartache of a third consecutive Final defeat and while commiserations go out to them Didcot's second half performance merited the win and we are worthy champions. Stuart Beavon hit a stunning brace, the other goal coming courtesy of Shane Wardle, arguably Sudbury's best player and who was desperately unlucky to finish on the losing side. It was Wardle who had scored Sudbury's opener a strike that would have graced any of the Premiership matches played at the Lane this season. Sudbury's other goal, late penalty deep into stoppage time, was a poor refereeing decision in all honesty but that should not detract from a match played in a sporting fashion by all concerned. full report can be found in Season Stats section of this site.

Didcot's celebrations lasted well into the night with a reception back at the Loop after the players had taken a detour through the Town to show the Cup to celebrating supporters. In a crowd of nearly 9000, Didcot had almost 5000 fans present and they responded to requests from the manager to make as much noise as they could. It certainly played a part in the victory.

We can now enjoy the summer and reflect upon the most successful season in the club's history. While the League eluded us, we have claimed the League Cup and the Vase in the space of 7 days. A fantastic achievement.

Preparations now begin for the next season, and we can confirm the intention of Reading to play a full strength side to play us in a friendly in mid July. Winchester City, last season's vase champions, are also likely to feature in our pre-season friendly fixtures. More news on that throughout the summer.

Thanks to everyone, in particular our die hard supporters who were with us from the start, for making 2004-2005 a season to remember.

LATEST VASE NEWS...LATEST VASE NEWS

Only two more days to go before Didcot Town FC play the biggest game in our 98 year history !!!!!!

It's fair to say that Cup fever has now hit the town with shops and supporters decked out in the red and white of DTFC well before the day of the game. Ticket sales have been excellent and merchandise has been going like hot cakes. Please remember that you wont be able to buy any match tickets direct from the club after 9pm this evening (Thurs), but you can still get your shirts, flags and merchandise right up until the coaches leave Saturday morning. You can also purchase a replica one-off shirt Vase Final shirt (as to be worn by the lads at White Hart Lane) for just £26...A BARGAIN!!! The club will be open during the day and evening on Friday for supporters looking to get their stuff prior to the day.

You are reminded that the first two coaches (club officials, reserves players and players partners) leave by 9am sharp Saturday and travellers on all other coaches must be at the club by 9.45am sharp!

The First Team will train Friday lunchtime prior to leaving for White Hart Lane for a brief tour on Friday afternoon. The players are staying in a luxury hotel near London on Friday night as they have done for the preceding few rounds on the road.

Supporters are reminded that there are 2 pubs near to White Hart Lane specially catering for Didcot supporters (i.e. no wellington boots or straw allowed in the bar) - they are The Victoria and The Two Brewers. Both pubs are in Scotlands Gardens which is off the Tottenham High Road between Bruce Grove BR station and the ground itself. We are very privileged to have persuaded two boozers to deck themselves in red and white so close to Spurs's ground so please do your best to support them!

If you haven't purchased your copy of the Didcot Herald yet you are urged to do so to get your copy of the special 16 page pull-out which was on-sale from today. Brilliant stuff.

If I don't get time to update these pages again before Saturday, I'd like to wish the players all the best for what I'm sure will be a game they'll never forget. As for all us supporters, lets enjoy the day, make enough noise to take the roof off, and whatever the result make sure we are a credit to the club and the town of Didcot.

Away from the Vase we have all been very disappointed at the club by the FA's decision to uphold the appeals made by Walton Casuals and Lymington & NM in regards of the promotion play-offs. As this is an official website of the club I won't say everything I would like regarding this matter. We accept the decision and will try to continue the positive steps we have taken this season both on and off the pitch.

Sunday 8th May 2005

	Didcot beat Carterton 5-1 yesterday to claim the first (and hopefully not the last!) silverware of their season by retaining the Hellenic League Challenge Cup. It was a great all round performance at Milton Utd in front of a healthy crowd of more than 600 (most decked out in the red and white of Didcot).
	A brace each from Ian Concannon and Stuart Beavon, plus a stunning 5th from Andy Parrott, gave us a comfortable win and just as important no new injury worries ahead of the Sudbury Vase showdown next Saturday.
	Please note there will be no new updates on this site until Wednesday evening. The Club are likely to know the outcome of the appeals from Walton Casuals and Lymington on Tuesday and whether we will be involved in a play-off for promotion in the week after the Vase final. I'm sure that news will be posted on the message board as soon as we know it.
	The club has now received the replica shirts for the Final (a one-off edition) and they are now on-sale from the club at just £26. T-shirts are also available (white £5 and Red at £7). Please ensure you purchase your Final merchandise before the expected last minute rush on Saturday!

Friday 6th May 2005

	Didcot face their first Cup Final of the campaign tomorrow with the League Challenge Cup showdown against Carterton at Milton Utd (Kick-off 3pm at the Heights).
	Town have won the Cup 5 times previously and are the current holders having overcome Hounslow Borough, Bishops Cleeve, Tuffley Rovers and Bicester Town to reach to last 2. Carterton also have had a tricky path to the final and needed a penalty shoot-out in the semis to beat Abingdon Utd.
	Didcot's record against Carterton this season has been good, three wins in three. However, Terry Merriman's side remain one the the best in the League on their day and Didcot will have to be at their best to make it four.
	Didcot's team news is promising but manager Stuart Peace will only decide his team on Saturday lunchtime. With Stuart Beavon, Ian Concannon, Grant Goodall and Paul Hannigan all coming back to full fitness he will have an near full squad to choose from. Full Report in Season Stats Section on Sunday.
	There will be no updates on this site from Monday to Wednesday but there will be a comprehensive preview of the Vase Final towards the end of next week.

	Unfortunately we have bad news for AFC Sudbury, our Vase final opponents. Its a rough old town Didcot with a lot of bored teenagers...

Wednesday 4th May 2005

	The FA this afternoon released the following statement regarding the proposed play-offs to decide the remaining promotion place to Step 4 of the pyramid:
	Further Press Release from FA Regarding Promotion to Step FOUR Leagues: "Following Appeals lodged by Lymington & New Milton FC and Walton Casuals FC, the process for promotion from Step 5 to Step 4 of the National League System has been put on hold. The Appeals are to be heard on Tuesday 10 May. Pending the outcome of the Appeals, it may be necessary to alter the format of the play-off matches. As a result of these Appeals, the play-off procedures previously notified will also be placed on hold."
	Clearly we will have to wait the outcome of these appeals and once again there may be another twist in the tale of our season. Watch this space...

Tuesday 3rd May 2005

The FA Vase trophy came to town today as the club took the opportunity to advertise the forthcoming Final. Visits were made to Williams F1 in Grove, East Hagbourne Primary School and Didcot Railway Centre. Please keep your eyes and ears open over the next few days as we had press from BBC Radio, BBC TV, Central News, Sky Sports and Oxford Mail present with us throughout the day.

Monday 2nd May 2005

	Didcot's hopes of promotion to the Southern League were rekindled this evening when the club learned that we are now in a three-way play-off with Winchester City and Enfield for the 8th and final promotion place from Level 4 to Level 5 of the pyramid.
	Crucially two League Champions have failed their ground gradings, inspections which were held yesterday, so the door is open for one of three runners-up. Didcot have been given a bye and will face the winners of Winchester or Enfield at the Loop Meadow on either the 16th or 17th May (the week after the FA Vase Final).
	The Club committee wishes to place on record its appreciation of the generosity and support shown by Didcot supporters over the course of the last season. We have been praised most recently by both Milton Utd and Fairford Town for the honesty and generosity of our fans with regards to collections and paying entry fees, and we also raised a considerable amount of money in memory of Robin Antonowicz at the Carterton game last week. Many thanks to you all, you are a credit to the club.

Sunday 1st May 2005

	Didcot won their final League game at Fairford yesterday 2-0 but with Highworth winning 3-0 at Wootton Bassett it is the Worthians who are celebrating winning the League this morning. Congratulations must go to all at the Elm and to manager John Fisher whose side has put together a brilliant run after Christmas.
	Didcot now have to wait on the outcome of ground gradings to learn our fate as regards possible promotion. Initial news, however, looks disappointing for us as it appears that 8 of the winning League champions at Level 5 appear to have made the grade for Level 4. Any news on this will be posted here, as indeed will the outcome of our inspection which is taking place this morning. As an update we have worked tirelessly this week to put in place the required new stand and other improvements we needed.
	Not including any possible play-off game we still have two major cup finals left to play, next Saturday we face Carterton in the League Challenge Cup final and on the 14th may we face AFC Sudbury in the FA Vase of course. Before all that we have the Vase making a guest appearance at the Club and around the town this Tuesday (3rd May). Please come along and have a look around, perhaps even buying some Final merchandise in the process.