Chris Kamara @ Didcot Town - 27th August

Didcot Home To Rangers - 17th August

No, not Glasgow Rangers, Queens Park Rangers, or even Kintbury Rangers, but we are delighted to announce that local fundraisers Didcot Thong Rangers have made the Loop Meadow Stadium and Social Club their new 'home'.

This means that Didcot Town will be lending our support to their various future events and fundraisers. Moreover, later this month, we will be playing host to the annual Thong Rangers Family Fun Day (Bank Holiday Monday 30 August from noon til 11pm). This looks set to be one of the biggest and best events ever held at the club as the Rangers look to raise money for two very poorly local children (and their parents) who are in need of vital medical equipment and support.

There are almost too many many stalls and activities going on to mention here but they include a showground arena, stalls, music, entertainiment, classic cars, raffle, auction with sensational prizes, displays and even the Thong Factor, a talent contest for budding local singers and musicians. For more information (and how you can hire your own stall for the day) please email Claire Hughes, hughesfamily08@o2.co.uk.

We hope you can come along and support this fantastic fundraiser at the Loop and would also ask you to print-off the attached flyer and get your family, friends and work colleagues to come along too. And don't worry, your grandma won't be offended, this is a family friendly event for young and old alike, without a thong in sight.

Didcot Football Partnership Training Day - 19th July

Late entries are being accepted for school leavers seeking further education opportunites to take part in the Didcot Football Partnership Training Day, which will take place on Wednesday 21st July at 9.30am.

This will be a fantastic chance for students to find out about all the opportunities available at Didcot Town FC and take part in professionally run football sessions.

This day will consist of a training session followed by matches and a chance for you to see how your lessons will operate in September. Attached is a timetable of the day and a flyer which explain in detail what you can expect and they will give you a great insight into how you will work on a day to day basis within a full time football and education environment.

Full details, and how to register, can be downloaded from these links:

Training Day Schedule Training Day Letter

Black Swan Lane Rocks Didcot - 15th July

Didcot Town have announced one of the more unlikely sponsorship deals of the summer – their official website is being supported by Black Swan Lane, a US/UK rock band with seemingly no connection whatsoever with the town or interest in football in the UK.

Didcot’s press officer Steve Clare explained how the sponsorship came about: “I am a big fan of Black Swan Lane and during some exchange of emails between myself and the band’s founder member and lead singer Jack Sobel he explained his frustrations at not being able to market their new album in this country. The band are receiving great reviews but unable to tell anyone about it over here.”

Although based in Atlanta in the US, Black Swan Lane is made up of a number of UK musicians too including Mark Burgess, former frontman of the Chameleons, who were highly influential on bands like Oasis and the Stone Roses in the 1980s and 90s. Another English-based musician who has collaborated regularly with the band is actor Andy Moore (real name Andy Whitaker), who plays PC Mike Swirling in ITV soap opera Emmerdale.

It’s not the first time a rock or popular music act has got involved in football sponsorship: Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim) used his local club Brighton & Hove Albion to advertise his ‘Palookaville’ album in 2004 and Wet Wet Wet famously sponsored their local club Clydebank. In non-league football Margate were once sponsored by Bad Manners, Goldie Lookin Chain were involved with Newport County and indie-band Mega City Four supported Farnborough Town in the 1990’s.

But the link between Black Swan Lane and Didcot Town is particularly unusual since all the other deals involved acts that were supporting their hometown clubs.

Clare continued: “It’s possibly unique for a US-based band to get involved in a relatively small club like Didcot Town but not so daft when you think about it. The football club have a popular official website and it’s a great outlet for Jack to publicise his band’s new album ‘Things You Know and Love’ while supporting us at the same time. I’m not sure how I would describe their music, it has a unique sound; but anyone who likes the Smiths, Echo & the Bunnymen, Joy Division or even the Beatles I’m sure will hear something on the album they like.”

"Finances are tighter than ever and each pound is important to us right now. So we are grateful to Black Swan Lane for their valuable support and remain quietly confident about our chances of maintaining our Premier Division status this season.”

Black Swan Lane official website: http://www.blackswanlane.com/

"U's" Reserves At npower Loop Meadow - 1st July

Oxford United will return to reserve action this season as they enter the Totesport.com Football Combination.

United will run a reserve side for the first time in four years and will play fourteen games in the Eastern Division, playing home and away against Colchester United, Ipswich Town, Luton Town, Peterborough United, Stevenage Borough, Watford and Wycombe Wanderers.

Home games will be played at npower Loop Meadow, the home of Didcot Town, with most fixtures taking place on Wednesday evening with 7pm kick offs.

OUFC coach Mickey Lewis (pictured) said: "It is good to have the opportunity to play in a reserve league again. The games are a great way for players to stay sharp, for injured players to make their return and for some of the exciting youngsters we have here to play alongside the senior players. We will have the fixtures set in place and can always arrange extra friendlies if games are needed. Didcot are a friendly club with excellent facilities so that will be a good venue for the games, and we know they will be competitive fixtures against good clubs in our division."

Railwaymen Back On Track - 28th June

After the disappointment of England's abject World Cup displays, Didcot Towns' attention now turns to the new season which starts in just a few short weeks.

Players new and old are invited along to pre-season training which starts on Tuesday 29 June at 7.15pm at the Loop Meadow. All welcome to come along as we prepare for life in the Southern League Premier and Hellenic League Division One East next season.

One piece of Reserve Team news is the new manager, Didcot Town welcome Craig Hughes (pictured) into the position and wish him and his team all the best in the Uhlsport Hellenic Division One East.

With new grading requirements introduced by The FA for season 2011/12, this season is important for many clubs at Step 6. Those with floodlit grounds who finish in the top 10 this season, in Hellenic Leagues One East and West, will be able to maintain progress at Step 6 and above in the forthcoming seasons.

In the short term the Railwaymens' concentration will be on the pre-season games at the Npower Loop MeadowStadium , with Coca Cola League newboys Oxford United , on Tuesday July 13th, making their first appearance after their play-off success at Wembley. Followed on Saturday 17th July with a visit from Kevin Dillons' Aldershot Town, then on Tuesday 20th July Conference Premier Forest Green Rovers take on The Railwaymen at The Loop.

Seeking a Fixture - 7th June

Zamaretto League Premier Division Didcot Town, are seeking a pre-season away fixture on Saturday 10th July.

Didcot would be pleased to receive enquiries from club's, at step 6 or 5, who would be interested in playing the Didcot Town first team on this date. Interested parties should make contact with Didcot Town secretary, Pat Horsman - by email didcot@fernring.co.uk or webmaster@hellenicleague.co.uk

Please note it is only the 10th July that Didcot are seeking a fixture for.