AMBITIOUS Southern League outfit Poole Town have strengthened their board with the appointment of Pippa Daniels as a director.

Daniels, who is also chairperson of the Poole Town Football Supporters’ Club, joins chairman Clive Robbins, vice-chairman Chris Reeves and directors Rod Taylor and Mark Bumford.

She has a wealth of experience in finance, having worked for Barclays Bank for the past 25 years, and a keen interest in football, having played as a youngster and in a local five-a-side league.

Daniels, whose eldest son Jake played for Poole Town Youth, has also served as both welfare officer and treasurer on the committee at Broadstone Football Club.

“We are chuffed to bits that Pippa has agreed to join the board,” said Reeves, speaking to the Daily Echo ahead of last night’s FA Trophy replay against Staines Town.

“She has been an absolute breath of fresh air in terms of the way she has applied herself in her role with the supporters’ club and is going to add a new dimension to the board, which is what we need.

“The club, as a business, has mushroomed and grown beyond all anticipation in the past few years as have our achievements on the pitch.

“The journey on the pitch continues to be an exciting one and, to keep pace with it off the pitch, we really do need some extra quality input to help with the inevitable growth. To get someone of Pippa’s calibre to agree to join the board is a terrific boost for us.

“To say we are pulled every which way in terms of the amount of time and attention we have to devote to the football club is an understatement and it will be great to have someone to share the load and the success.”

Poole are currently flying high at the top of the Premier Division of the Southern League and have designs on winning promotion to the Conference South, the second tier of the non-league pyramid.

Daniels told the Daily Echo: “I am excited to have been invited to join the board of Poole Town and am looking forward to working with Clive, Chris, Mark and Rod to help our manager Tom Killick take the team to the next level.

“I became hooked on the club after my older son had stopped playing for the under-18s and Rob Bayston, whose son also played, suggested I watched the first team.

“My first game was the agonising play-off final defeat by Gosport and I remember being made very welcome by many supporters. I am relishing the challenge of helping the club progress.”