Didcot Town legend Jamie Heapy is the ‘ultimate professional in the non-league game’.

That is the view of fellow joint manager Ian Concannon ahead of the 36-year-old defender’s testimonial match against a side of ex-Reading players at the Draycott Engineering Loop Meadow Stadium tomorrow (2pm).

The pair have known each other for around 30 years, but Concannon says the loyalty Heapy has shown to the Railwaymen is staggering.

“Didcot is his football club,” he said. “He has been an unbelievable servant and has been the first name on the teamsheet for every manager since he broke into the side here.

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“The testimonial is long overdue – he is without doubt the ultimate professional in the non-league game.”

Heapy has overcome a hamstring injury to play a minor role in tomorrow’s match, but will not make any decision on his long-term involvement until next season.

“I don’t want to let people down and I don’t want to stop other lads coming through, so I’ll do pre-season training and see how it goes from there,” he said.

“I want to do my coaching badges so I can hopefully give something back and bring the next generation through.”

Heapy joined Didcot at under nine level and came through the ranks alongside several players who would be key members of the successful mid-2000s side.

The first of his astounding 848 senior appearances came, aged 16, in a 2-2 draw with Cirencester Town at the club’s old Station Road ground and the loyal Heapy has spent the next 19 years with the Railwaymen, barring a brief dalliance with Oxford City in 2011.

Under his captaincy, Didcot enjoyed a period of tremendous success, recording an historic FA Vase triumph at White Hart Lane in 2005, as well as a trio of Hellenic League Challenge Cup victories between 2004 and 2006, before winning promotion into the Southern League.

And after taking up the managerial reins at the club with Concannon in November 2013, Heapy hopes to replicate that success as a manager.

However, first on his mind is the testimonial, which is sure to be an emotional occasion for Didcot’s greatest servant.

“I usually get a bit embarrassed by this kind of attention, but it’s just humbling to be recognised by the club in this way,” he said.