JAMIE Heapy admits the hard work will start almost immediately after his Didcot Town side achieved promotion to step three of non-league.

Jamar Smith coolly converted a first half penalty in the only goal of the game at home to Ware in the Southern League Central Division play-off final.

Fellow Oxfordshire side North Leigh were relegated from step three this season after promotion the previous campaign.

READ ALSO: On the pitch reaction from Didcot Town’s manager after promotion secured

Heapy acknowledged the Millers’ fate when discussing the busy summer that lies ahead for his Didcot team.

He said: “We’ve got a massive challenge and a lot of work to do.

“We’ve got to review the squad and look at it.

“We’ll probably have a week’s rest I’d have thought and then we’ll be back at it.

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“Me and the staff will be looking at how we can improve the team – it’s a tough league and there’s some big teams in that league.

“North Leigh fair play to them, nearly kept themselves up.

“It’s going to be tough but you’ve got to give it a go haven’t you?

“We’re there now and we’ve got to give it a go.”

Heapy, who won the FA Vase as a player with the Railwaymen in 2005, added: “I’ll have to sit down with the chairman and board, and find out what our budget will be going forward, but I’ll work with whatever.

“Whatever it is, these boys deserve a chance at that step.

“Yes, we need to bring a couple in to make us better and stronger, but it’s going to be tough.

“We’ve overachieved this year and to get where we are today is unbelievable, but we’ve got to keep it going.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for North Leigh and the people at North Leigh, they do so much and they nearly got out of it.

“It’s going to be tough and I’m under no illusions how hard it’s going to be.

“We’ve just got to do our homework, look at our network of players and which ones we can bring in that’ll fit the budget and go from there.”

Heapy, who faced a battle with ill health in recent years, said: “It’s all worth it and I’d do it all again if I had to.

“I’ve said before in interviews, when you’re having a tough time personally with ill health and chemotherapy, and all that, you take stock of everything.

“It puts life in perspective and this is all worth it.

“When you have those dark days, you can’t beat days like this.

“This is what it’s all about – friends, family, the kids and the community.

“It’s brilliant and makes it all worthwhile.”

READ MORE: Didcot Town promoted after play-off final win in front of bumper home crowd

He added: “For 10 months this season, we’ve done great but even before that, they stuck together with Covid and when the league got curtailed early.

“They stuck together and it shows on the pitch, they’d run through brick walls for each other.

“They’ve got such great spirit and togetherness, and I love them.”

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About the author

To sign up to Liam’s latest Oxford United newsletter for free, click here: https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/newsletters/

Formerly the politics reporter for the Oxford Mail, Liam now covers all things Oxford United.

Liam attends the U’s home and away, as well as covering other big sports stories across the county.

His Oxford United newsletter is released every Saturday morning at 6am.