It’s been a busy few months behind the scenes putting together our plans for the new Didcot Town Reserves team, which will officially join the club for the 2026/27 season.

The team will be managed and coached by the experienced duo of Martyn Whell and Rob Wytchard, with support from Matt Leach as assistant manager and Ethan Bones as assistant coach. Following numerous meetings involving Welly, Rob, Myself, Jamie Heapy and Pete Bryan, manager of our U18 Allied Counties squad, it has become very clear that Welly and Rob fully understand and embrace the purpose of establishing a reserve team at Didcot Town. The creation of a reserve side was identified as a key priority during the early stages of my time in this role and forms an important part of the long-term vision that Director of Football Andy Lyne has for the club.

The reserves will train alongside the first-team squad, creating opportunities for players to integrate into the senior setup when the time is right. Over the past few months, the squad has been taking shape nicely, with the management team demonstrating a real commitment to developing our talented young players while also providing opportunities for local footballers to become part of the club and work towards involvement with the first team in the future.

The team will compete in the Hellenic Alliance League against some excellent local opposition, and everyone involved is looking forward to getting the season underway on the club’s new pitch. The facilities will be a fantastic asset for the team, and we encourage supporters who are unable to travel to first-team away matches to come down to The Loop and continue supporting the club by backing the reserves on a Saturday afternoon.

After all the hard work that has gone into creating this new team, we are delighted to strengthen the pathway that already exists within the club — from the successful Didcot Town Youth section, through the U18 Allied Counties side, and now into a reserve team designed to bridge the gap to senior football. This is another important step in the continued development of Didcot Town Football Club, providing our young players with a clear route to progress and fulfil their potential within the club.

Any players interested in speaking with Welly about the team’s pre-season preparations are encouraged to get in touch with him on 07795098952

Anyone interested in sponsorship opportunities with the reserve team, please contact the club through the usual sponsorship channels.

Matt Hinchliffe
Head of Football Development