After the drama of Wednesday night’s county cup victory, it’s back to our main objective this season, and that is securing our status as a Southern League club. Didcot Town are the visitors on Saturday, a side safe from relegation but also a bit too far away to challenge for a playoff spot. Their results have been very mixed of late with wins over Helston and Bristol Manor Farm, but also a couple of defeats to Bishops Cleeve. Last time out they played out a goalless draw with Willand Rovers.

Despite a number of injuries, Bideford’s form has picked up recently, going four games without defeat in all competitions. The Robins were unfortunate to not pick up maximum points against Yate and Shaftesbury, so the win at struggling Cribbs was a much needed one.

Ryan Turner and Alex Byrne should return to the squad for the Robins while Javan Wright begins his three match ban after an appeal against his red card at Cribbs was dismissed.

Bideford’s last six (LLDWDW) Pos 15th Pld 36 W10 D13 L13 Pts 43
02/04/25 Ivybridge Town 1 Bideford 2 (St Luke’s Cup SF)
29/03/25 Shaftesbury 3 Bideford 3 (League)
25/03/25 Cribbs 0 Bideford 3 (League)
22/03/25 Bideford 1 Yate Town 1 (League)
15/03/25 Larkhall Athletic 2 Bideford 1 (League)
11/03/25 Evesham United 3 Bideford 1 (League)

Didcot Town’s last six (LWDLWD) Pos 10th Pld 37 W13 D12 L12 Pts 51
01/04/25 Didcot Town 0 Willand Rovers 0 (League)
29/03/25 Didcot Town 2 Bristol Manor Farm 1 (League)
22/03/25 Bishops Cleeve 2 Didcot Town 0 (League)
15/03/25 Didcot Town 2 Mousehole 2 (League)
08/03/25 Helston Athletic 0 Didcot Town 3 (League)
25/02/25 Didcot Town 0 Bishops Cleeve 1 (League)

A Brief History of Didcot Town FC
Didcot Town were originally founded in 1907 and played in the North Berkshire League, Reading League and Metropolitan League until becoming founder members of the Hellenic League in 1953. Didcot were crowned the first Hellenic League champions in 1953/54. They dropped out of the Premier Division three times over the next 50 years but each time returned relatively quickly. In 2004/05 Didcot won the FA Vase defeating AFC Sudbury 3-2 in the final at White Hart Lane. They followed this major honour up by winning a second Hellenic League title in 2005/06 and gained promotion to the Southern League Division One South & West. In 2008/09 Didcot were promoted to the Southern League Premier Division after winning the play-offs and spent two seasons at that level before being relegated back to Division One in 2010/11. The next five seasons saw them finish 16th, 17th, 12th, 7th, and 10th back in South & West. Didcot reached the first round proper of the FA Cup in 2015/16 and were drawn at home to Exeter City. The game was shown live on BT Sport with 2,707 in attendance at Loop Meadow. The Grecians ran out 3-0 winners but it was a very profitable day for the Oxfordshire club. Didcot transferred across to Division One Central in 2018 and were promoted to Premier Division Central in 2022/23 after finishing 3rd and beating Ware in the Play-Off Final. They were relegated back to Division One the following season but were transferred once again to the West Division.

Didcot Town FC
Loop Meadow Stadium
Bowmont Water
Ladygrove
Didcot
Oxfordshire
OX11 7GA
Tel: 01235 813138
Website: https://www.didcottownfc.co.uk
Twitter: @didcottownfc

Recent meetings:
21/12/24 Didcot Town 3 Bideford 0 (Southern Div 1 South)
23/12/17 Didcot Town 0 Bideford 0 (Southern Div 1 West)
12/08/17 Bideford 1 Didcot Town 0 (Southern Div 1 West)
28/01/17 Bideford 2 Didcot Town 2 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
24/09/16 Didcot Town 4 Bideford 2 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
04/11/14 Didcot Town 2 Bideford 1 (FA Trophy Q1 replay)
01/11/16 Bideford 3 Didcot Town 3 (FA Trophy Q1)
17/03/12 Bideford 2 Didcot Town 1 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
19/11/11 Didcot Town 1 Bideford 1 (Southern Div 1 S&W)