Diddy media man scoops Volunteer of the Month award

Diddy sealed their return to the seventh tier for the first time in 12 years with a 1-0 win over Ware in the Pitching In Southern League Division One Central Division play-off final in front of a crowd just shy of 2,000.

And Bowman, 26, hopes that his hard work drumming up awareness on social media can continue to boost crowds at Step 3.

“To see the whole town come together for the play-off final, 1,938 people, we would love that on a regular basis,” said Bowman.

“There are the same old faces, guaranteed chat with people and we try and make it a club that everyone knows – when I joined, some people didn’t even know we had a football club.

“You could hear people around the town, it was a lovely atmosphere. It was a great turnout and a great advertisement for non-league football.”

Didcot’s success has been underpinned by the hard work of Bowman and his fellow volunteers, and fans across the country are now able to find opportunities at clubs near them using the Pitching In Volunteer Hub.

Bowman only moved to Didcot three years ago from Southampton but was quickly welcomed into the community through his volunteering at the club.

The 26-year-old splits his time working in a distribution centre with his commitments to the club, and is the latest recipient of the Pitching In Volunteer of the Month award.

Stuart Pearce swapped the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona for the Alfred Davis Memorial Ground for Non-League Day 🙌

The England legend returned to his non-league roots with a visit to @MarlowFC

Check out how he got on 👇 pic.twitter.com/FqsMsR0m8i

— Pitching In (@PitchingIn_) March 30, 2023

“It’s a tight-knit, community club,” he added. “I have never really been part of a community town before, Southampton is a big city, no one really knows anybody whereas here you get that connection.

“I moved up here three years ago during the middle of the pandemic. My wife is from Abingdon and we decided to move back this way.

“I found out they needed a media assistant; I have no previous experience in it at all but I love football and thought I would give it a go.

“I work in a distribution centre 6am until 2pm, and then I have the rest of the day free. It works for me and allows me to do things for Didcot, attend all the committee meetings, and other personal ventures.” 

“I really enjoy the role and there are more exciting plans for next season. It’s a new industry and learning how a football club actually works is really eye-opening.

“The community aspect is strong, but it is something I want to work on even more going forward; football clubs are community assets and we have got to keep them that way.” 

Find volunteering opportunities at your local club by visiting