The Railwaymen's Noughties - 31st December

"Steve Clare, who has been involved with Didcot Town for more years than many would care to remember, gives his views on the clubs success during 'The Noughties' and presents a wonderful decade of success for the 'Railwaymen'. Brian King

With 2010 only hours away, and a new decade looming, time to reflect upon what is likely to remain one of the most significant decades in the history of Didcot Town.

In terms of ‘major' honours ("major" in terms of what was available for us to win) we managed to claim ten trophies: and 10 major honours in 10 years is a remarkable achievement, even more so in the context of our previous successes in the years that preceded the last ten years (or lack of them). That's not to denigrate the efforts of past players and teams, but it's safe to say (in terms of filling out the trophy cabinet), the ‘noughties' are likely to be our most successful for a very long time.

One of the incredible statistics in our recent past has been our ability to perform when it matters - we have not been beaten in a cup final for more than 15 years. During the past decade we've won the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy 3 times, the Hellenic League Challenge Cup 3 times (the first club to achieve a hat-trick of wins in a row), the Hellenic League Supplementary Cup and not forgetting the most notable cup success of all: TheFA Vase.

Add to that the winning of the Hellenic Premier Division, which might now seem fairly trivial but after more than 50 years of waiting lifting that particular shield was becoming an obsession; and latterly the Southern League play-off victory last season: that's an impressive list which will take some beating in any decade.

Through all this time we have witnessed many memorable moments. We've also had some terrific players turn out for us. In the past 10 years a number of them have earned for themselves a special place in our club history...players who will be talked about in 50 years in the same glowing way that those who played in the 1953 Hellenic League winning side still are. Names like Ian Concannon (nearly 300 goals in 300 games the most prolific striker in non-league football Step 5 and above in the country?!), Jamie Heapy (more than 600 appearances now, skipper at White Hart Lane and still going strong), Danny Campbell (perhaps the classiest defenders of them all, part of our Vase winning team, but cruelly struck down by leukaemia), Paul Noble (another long serving defender, a legend...just ask him), Paul Powell (arguably the most talented players ever to play for the club, in any decade), Stuart Beavon (superlatives not necessary), Andy Cooper (one of the best defenders ever to pull on the red and white shirt), Dwaine Strong (his spell with us blighted by injury but in the early part of the decade the quickest player ever seen at the Loop), Jack King, who can forget his part in our promotion last season,(to the Southern League Premier Division) but also an ever-present at training and on matchdays, a manager's dream...and many, many others. And who would have thought the likes of Peter Rhoades-Brown would have played for the Diddymen when he was turning-out for Chelsea in the 1980's? (Apologies to anyone not mentioned, you were all important!).

In terms of most memorable games opinions are bound to differ on what were the most notable. Even last weekend's game against Oxford City will be added to many supporters' list I'm sure, but I wasn't there and my top ten (in no particular order) is:
1. Colne 2-3 Didcot: FA Vase 5th Round win in 2004/05 at Colne - just the best weekend imaginable - a great win in farcical conditions, first time players had ever stayed away night before a game, Noz's birthday, Colne Rugby club, hangovers and singing...
2. AFC Sudbury 2-3 Didcot: FA Vase Cup Final 2005...nothing needed to say.
3. Berks & Bucks Final at Chesham 2000/01 Didcot 2-1 AFC Wallingford...easy to forget how big this game was at the time - two Oxfordshire clubs in the final of the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy (?), Ian Concannon, Danny Campbell, Bradley Ward, Paul Hannigan playing for Wallingford (all later to become significant players in Didcots' success story)...350 travelling over from both clubs (we had more than Wallingford of course!). At the time this was a significant win and Pete Cox's finest hour as manager.
4. Bishops Cleeve 1-1 Didcot 2005...fancy dress, Stuart Beavon goal and the point we needed to be Hellenic League Champions, very gracious Cleeve players and officials...happy days
5. AFC Totton 1-2 Didcot: Southern League Division One Play-offs 2009...Against all the odds, three massive away wins in two weeks against 1st, second and then third placed clubs in a row.
6. Didcot 2-2 Oxford City (Southern League Division One Play-offs 2007/08), lost on penalty's...sensational game, drama, tears and penalties. You don't always get what you deserve!
7. Jarrow 0-1 Didcot FA Vase semi-final 2nd leg 2005...best side won it in the end but the prize on offer was so great you still worried...brilliant defending and Bev's on the scoresheet again...
8. Leamington 3-5 Didcot 2009...only a few weeks ago but this game had two hat-tricks, two sendings-off, 8 goals and a Diddy victory away from home in front of 500+ supporters...
9. Didcot 2-1 Shortwood 2006...Down to ten men, goalkeeper Chris Webb sent-off with makeshift keeper Paul Bedwell between the sticks, 1-1 and time running out...up pops Stuart Beavon with a wonder goal in the closing stages and another vital 3 points in our search for the Hellenic title.
10. Didcot 5-5 North Leigh 2002 Hellenic League Floodlit Cup...not the most important game we've ever had but against a team that we failed to beat all season in five attempts, surely 4-1 at half-time we would win this one...er, nope, 4-4 at full time and 5 each after extra-time, we'd lose in the replay!

I'm sure you can add your favourites to this list, and your favourite players of the last decade. And now's your chance on the www.didcottownfc.com forum. We will take-on board all nominations for 'Best Player' and 'Best Match' and we'll then add a poll vote on the website so you can vote for the definitive winner for each category for the 'noughties'.

Finally, and on a sad note, alongside the great and memorable moments and players, the last ten years has also seen us lose a number of dear friends and supporters including, from the DTFC committee, two of the most influential people we've ever had; Ted Dadds and Paddy Burton. They may be gone, but their friendship and influence on Didcot Town FC will never be forgotten.