With so much financial doom and gloom prevalent in newspaper articles and football boardrooms up and down the country, how refreshing that we can today concentrate on what can be so good about the non-league game; in fact, we can celebrate the sort of achievement that typified the old non-league ethic that attracted us here in the first place.

Saturday afternoon, in the Southern League Premier Division game between Didcot Town and Chesham United, brings the 700th First Team appearance of Didcot Town skipper Jamie Heapy. And it really is an impressive personal achievement… "Jamie is the most outstanding local non-league player of the past decade." So says ex-Abingdon United, Abingdon Town, Ardley United, Highworth, Banbury United etc. etc. stalwart Mark O'Hara. High praise from a local opponent (not withstanding a legend in his own lunchtime) who knows better than most just how good a player Jamie has been over the years.

The idea of a 'one-club' player, even in non-league, is virtually unheard of these days. As soon as someone establishes himself in a side he is guaranteed to attract interest from neighbouring clubs. No doubt if the News of the World had bugged Jamie's mobile over the years they'd have uncovered more illegal approaches than seen on the French side of the Channel tunnel on a summer's evening near Sangatte. But ignoring all these offers (often flavoured with the promise of significant extra financial rewards) Jamie has stayed utterly loyal to his hometown club. It's no exaggeration to say that if you cut him in half, he would even bleed red!

This afternoon is a significant milestone not just because he's made so many appearances (and counting) in Didcot colours; but alongside it he has also skippered the First Team during by far the most successful period in the club's 100+ year-history.

Little Jamie (as he was then) made his first team debut against Cirencester United as a fresh-faced 16 year-old in 1995 under manager Malcolm Cox-Rogers. Diddy were then plying their trade (with limited success it must be said) in the Hellenic Division One - the equivalent of where our Reserve team currently play! Our last few years at the Station Road ground (towards the end of the 90's) are regarded fondly by both ex-players and supporters old enough to remember them, but in terms of footballing success they were pretty lean times.

Jamie was one of a number of emerging teenagers who came through the ranks at around the time of our move to the Loop Meadow. Alongside the likes of Jon-Paul Bailey, Alex Deadman, Jon Gardner, Glyn Jones and Dwaine Strong, Jamie helped formed the spine of a distinctly youthful side which stuck around well into the early 2000's: significantly, however, only Jamie retained his place on a regular basis as the decade progressed.

By 2004 Jamie's consistency at the back or in midfield had been rewarded with the captain's armband. Whether or not the unprecedented success that arrived over the subsequent period could be attributed solely to his leadership is debatable. But his consistently high performance levels, especially in the biggest games, no doubt inspired those around him. Team-mates like Stuart Beavon, Bradley Ward, Andy Cooper and Paul Powell more often took the newspaper headlines, but Jamie too was outstanding in the matches that really mattered e.g.: in all three successful Hellenic League Cup final games, in the draw at Bishops Cleeve in 2006 to earn promotion to the Southern League, and not least in the FA Vase semi-final against Jarrow at the Loop when he scored the game's only goal...time and again, Jamie led from the front and produced hugely impressive displays.

As skipper he helped re-write the club's record books. He will almost certainly remain the only captain of any club to lift the Hellenic League Challenge Cup three times on the trot. And closer to home, he'll most likely be the only Didcot Town skipper to lift the FA Vase trophy.

Diddy supporters will have differing views on what has made him such an influential and important player. For me, his versatility has been one of his greatest traits. How often is it said (incorrectly) that a player has played in every position for his club? Well, in Jamie's case, it's absolutely true; he really has occupied every playing position in a Didcot shirt including goalkeeper. More important, he's always played where he's been asked to without fuss and histrionics. And he's done it with calm authority over a period spanning more than 15 years. And you could count on the fingers of one hand the games he's missed through injury or suspension.

His popularity is unequalled both amongst his fellow players and with fans and it should be no surprise; playing colleagues appreciate his never-say-die attitude while supporters love to see players who make the most of their talent and wear their heart on their sleeve. But they also like to see a player who stays behind after the game for a drink and is always approachable (win or lose) for a chat about the game.

Injuries permitting, Jamie is still young enough that it's entirely possible he'll reach the 1000 game-mark for Diddy which, alongside Ian Concannon's astonishing goal-scoring record, is unlikely ever to be beaten.

Jamie's place in the Railwaymen's history is already secured as one of the best players ever to pull on the club shirt. Will anyone else ever reach 700 appearances for DTFC? It's possible, but in today's game highly unlikely. Indeed, it's with some confidence that even 100 years on from now we can predict that Jamie will be regarded as the greatest servant the club has ever known.

Source: Steve Clare -Didcot Town FC