AT one point, the idea of taking charge at a football club was nothing more than a passing joke for Paula Henley.

Like most fans, the what-would-you-do-if discussion seemed to signify the limit of her intent. But in late-September, Henley – the daughter of former Derby and Coventry winger Dave Smith – decided to take it a step further.

The 47-year-old Ferndown resident accepted the role of chairperson at Wimborne Town and suddenly a whimsical notion had got serious. Initially, it came as a bit of a shock.

“I love football and have been involved in it all my life. My father played professionally, I played for Bournemouth ladies and have always watched non-league and AFC Bournemouth from the terraces,” said Henley.

“I used to joke with my friends that one day I should be looking after a football club in some guise. But the idea of taking over as chairperson of a football club was not necessarily on my agenda.

“My son started playing football locally and he went on holiday courses run by Steve Cuss (Wimborne manager) and Cuthbury was one of the venues.

“I thought it was a lovely club, very traditional and slightly quirky. Then, we had my son’s birthday party here and I got talking to people and got to know a bit more.

“It was mentioned to me that there was room for someone on the board with drive and ambition. I come from a business background and have done all sorts of things in my life, and I thought, ‘I could do this’.

“I spoke to the board and they asked for things that I thought I could do, so I put myself forward and here I am.”

Originally from Derbyshire, Henley moved to Dorset when she was six.

She has a diverse business background but currently jointly-runs Henley’s Response Ltd with her husband, a property refurbishment and maintenance business whose advertising hoardings can clearly be seen in the East Stand at Dean Court.

With a Southern League Division One South & West football club now on her plate, Henley has plenty to get on with. But she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Someone said to me, ‘it will consume you’ and it does,” said Henley. “But it’s a great sense of relief to me to be doing something like this because I’m passionate about the game.

“I can see the people I’m dealing with are passionate about their club. They want you to do something for their team and I like having that kind of responsibility because I know I can do it.

“I don’t like losing. I’m not naive and I know you can’t win everything but it’s not really on my radar to lose. If things do go wrong then I will always look at why and how we can improve.

“At the moment, I’m loving what’s happening. Someone said to me that I had the Midas touch and that I needed to keep bring the sprinkles with me. It’s nice to be thought of like that. It’s a good omen.”

Those sort of sentiments are not without foundation. Shortly after Wimborne had unveiled their new chairperson, the first team won six games in a row. In addition, progress to the first round proper of the FA Trophy was rubber-stamped with victory over AFC Hornchurch on Saturday.

While no one is suggesting that Henley was responsible for that run, there is no denying she has brought a feel-good factor to Cuthbury, not to mention a newly-refurbished function room, 1878, which was recently opened by Cherries legend Steve Fletcher.

So what now for the Dorset club and their prospects under Henley?

“I normally say to people that my ambitions are very ambitious and I’d like to get this team into the Conference. When I say that, people look at me as if I’ve lost the plot but I see no reason why not.

“Being realistic, I think we’re looking at three to five years. That’s the aim and if everyone’s on board, that’s what we’ve got to go for.

“We need to drive the club forward commercially and 1878 is going to be pivotal to our success in terms of generating revenue so we can then strengthen the team.

“I totally trust Steve. If you look at what he’s achieved with what he’s had, it’s incredible.

“He’s a great man in many respects and he gives up an awful lot for this football club.

“The lads love him, he’s a football man and he knows what he’s doing.”