SUCCESS HEAPS PRIDE ON JAMIE
YOU could hardly blame manager Jamie Heapy for savouring every second of Didcot Town’s promotion having won the battle of – and for – his life.
‘Mr Didcot’ played more than 850 games for the Railwaymen, winning the FA Vase and captaining the club to its first journey into Step 3 back in 2009.
Monday’s 1-0 win at home to Ware in the Southern Division One Central playoff final, decided by Jamar Smith’s first-half penalty, earned a return to that level for the south Oxfordshire outfit.
Quite the triumph for Heapy, establishing himself as Didcot’s standard bearer in the dugout as well as on the pitch, but it was only possible after his biggest victory – kicking a rare form of cancer into remission.
Diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma in 2021, Heapy underwent an arduous year of chemotherapy that kept him in hospital for months at a time, during which he considered vacating the Loop Meadow hotseat but the help of his trusted assistants made all the difference, making this season’s success the sweetest imaginable.
“When you are sitting there it puts things in perspective,” Heapy told The NLP. It was tough but you have two choices – what do you do, give up or fight?
“I was in hospital for many months and Craig Adey and Paul Bedwell, my assistants, stepped up to look after things.
“We spoke and I tried to do as much as I could. You have good days but obviously you have your really bad days while you’re in hospital and you need your spirit.
“Luckily, I am quite strong mentally and used my time in football to help get me through the tough times.
“I didn’t know whether it spread and got to anywhere else, the treatment was working – and thankfully it did – but your health and your family are more important than anything.
“There were times where I thought about whether I could continue being a manager, at least at that point, but we got through it.
“Thankfully, it is all okay and good now. I have to go back every three or four months to see my consultant but he is happy at the moment and as long as he is happy, I am happy – I feel fine and back to normal now.
“My hair has grown back but it has gone grey after these past few weeks – I think it is down to the football!
“The ride we have been on this season has been incredible. The boys have been fantastic, they have put in the hard graft on the training pitch and the team spirit they have is second to none.
“I know you need talent as well but that gets you quite far. The special bond they have is so pleasing, it gets you through those battles, the tough games when it is 0-0 and tight.”
It was the second time in as many seasons that Ware had fallen at the final hurdle having been beaten by North Leigh – Didcot’s local rivals – in the play-off final 12 months ago.
“I have a lot of respect for Paul (Halsey, Ware manager) and his team,” added Heapy. “After going through this last season, it must have been tough to take but unfortunately, someone has to miss out in the play-offs.
“It was a big occasion with two good teams going for it, there was a big crowd in and the boys performed, digging in at the end when they put a bit of pressure on us.
“Ware are no mugs, it was a tight game but we edged that first half and deserved to win over the 90 minutes.
“It was just a great day for everyone at the club – my players, the staff, the volunhad teers, everyone. We didn’t expect it but when you’re winning games, it puts you in with a chance, one which we took with both hands.”
The hard work starts now with Heapy acknowledging the headache that lurked within the crowd of 1,938 that witnessed Didcot’s big moment.
“Ware brought a few and the locals turned out, including other local managers probably watching my players, seeing who they can line up for next season,” he said through a wry smile.
“A lot of work will have to go in and it will be tough. There are some proper, physical, well-prepared teams that will have bigger budgets but we are looking forward to the challenge. We will look to recruit well, bring in a couple over the summer and give it a good go. We will fight, definitely.”
Good job, then, that Didcot’s manager is someone who truly knows what it means to fight.