POOLE Town vice-chairman Chris Reeves is under strict instruction to keep the champagne on ice – or risk the dizzying effects of its bottle.

The Tatnam director revealed his premature request for the bubbly towards the end of a painful play-off defeat to Gosport four years ago had resurfaced ahead of Poole’s date with destiny against Dunstable tomorrow (3pm).

Victory would seal the Southern League title and promotion to National South for the Dolphins with Reeves, who first joined the board in 1977, struggling more than most to contain his excitement.

But with boss Tom Killick working at Reeves’s legal practice in Poole, the club’s biggest fan has been told to banish any talk of glory for now.

Reeves told the Daily Echo: “The subject of winning the title inevitably came up earlier this week and Tom ran out of my office with his hands over his ears.

“I have been forbidden from talking about it and he told me if he sees me with a bottle of champagne any time before the final whistle, he might just hit me over the head with it!

“The Gosport game was into added time and I said to our boardroom host Ellie Bumford that it was safe to go to get the champagne.

“She came back 45 seconds later and Steve Claridge had equalised. Now Ellie is even more adamant than Tom that I’m not allowed to speak about champagne but I must admit, it is difficult not to.

“That said, I completely understand and respect Tom’s stance. One of my lowest points – until I later reflected on how well we had done – was after we lost the title to Corby last season.

“Should we be fortunate enough to win it this time, it would be made all the sweeter for that heartache.”

Before kick-off, Reeves will induct revered former player and manager Roger Bazeley into the club’s hall of fame.

Bazeley was in charge when Poole reached the Anglo Italian Cup final in 1981 and the FA Cup first round proper three years later but Reeves insisted claiming this crown would surpass those heady days.

“Tom is the best manager I have worked with, even if Roger does push him very close,” said Reeves.

“We played some fantastic football and the Anglo Italian Cup experiences were awesome but I’m sure even Roger accepts this title would top the lot.

“I have many happy memories of that era but should we win the title, it would be five championships and two second-place finishes in eight years.

“All of the issues with the ground has made life tough. People say how well we are doing, and we are, but in the back of my mind there is always this battle we have for our future.

“But then I think back to our days at Haskell’s Rec. Even being drawn against a Dorset Combination side in the county cup presented us with challenges and against Wessex League teams, we would just hope for a decent performance.

“Where we have come from is just incredible. Not many clubs have come this far in such a short period of time. I just hope we can finish the job for everyone involved.”