PLAYERS and officials of local football clubs have been stunned by the death of Didcot Town manager Rob Dodd, aged 44, at the weekend.

On Sunday, more than 100 players and supporters turned up at Didcot Town social club as a tribute to Rob - or Doddy as he was affectionately known - who died of natural causes in the Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, on Saturday after being taken ill last week.

Club chairman John Bailey said: "The club is devastated - Rob attracted young players as well as support on the social side and was a driving force behind one of Didcot's most successful seasons for many years."

Mr Bailey, who was at Mr Dodd's hospital bedside with his family at the weekend, said the Didcot manager was popular and widely respected throughout the Hellenic League.

Father-of-two Mr Dodd, of New Road, East Hagbourne, was a building sub-contractor. He grew up at Didcot where he went to St Birinus School and played for Didcot Boys and Didcot Casuals before becoming a player and then manager of the North Berks League side Harwell.

A centre half and a goalkeeper, he played for Didcot Town's Hellenic League Premier Division side which he managed for more than two years.

Under his directionlast season, Didcot Town lifted the Hellenic League Premier Division Cup, the pre-season Clanfield Cup and the midweek Hungerford Cup.

Mr Bailey said that only last week that Mr Dodd was in discussion with the club management committee over his plans for next season.

He was formerly a keen squash player and also enjoyed relaxing on the golf course.

The funeral is at St Andrew's Church, East Hagbourne on Friday.

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