RICHARD Gillespie talks like he takes his goals – with an assured confidence.

Although he seems to have been around forever, the prolific non-league marksman is still only 31.

And that could spell bad news for National South defenders.

Gillespie was on target as Poole Town opened their account at the higher level with a 1-0 win over Maidenhead United on Tuesday.

Plagued by back problems last season, he was restricted to 17 appearances as the Dolphins were crowned champions of the Southern League.

Promotion presented Gillespie with another opportunity to showcase his talents in the second tier of the pyramid, something he is relishing.

Gillespie told the Daily Echo: “I was at Eastleigh for three years and scored quite a few goals at this level.

“After leaving them, I dropped down to the Southern Premier (with AFC Totton) with the intention of getting straight back up but it didn’t quite work like that.

“The Southern Premier is a tough league to get out of but I got there with Poole and it is where I feel I should be.

“It’s a more enjoyable level of football for me because it’s more competitive and you are playing against better players.”

Gillespie, a late replacement in the Poole starting line-up after Luke Burbidge had withdrawn through injury, finished with aplomb against Maidenhead to record his 34th goal in 65 games for the club.

Asked whether he felt he had a point to prove in National South, Gillespie’s reply was as emphatic as his winner: “Not really.

“In three years at Eastleigh, I think I proved I was more than comfortable playing at this level. I was top goalscorer at the club in my first season and in the top eight in the league.

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s the level I should be playing at anyway. Personally, I feel I’ve been playing below myself over the past couple of years.

“It was nice to get on the scoresheet, to play well and to get up and running. I hadn’t been expecting to be playing for a few weeks so was happy with that.”

An accountant by profession, Gillespie made his name at Bashley and remains the New Forest club's all-time record goalscorer, having plundered 180 in 324 games.

He starred in their record-breaking 2006-07 campaign when they won Southern League Division One South and West by 28 points and achieved a rare double century of 102 points and 111 goals. Gillespie’s tally of 41 was the highest in the Southern League.

Asked whether he had ever had designs on playing professionally, Gillespie’s answer typically gives the goalkeeper no chance: “I was 21 when we won the league at Bashley and I look back now and think it was a bit surprising no one came in for me but they didn’t.

“When I was younger, I would have jumped at the opportunity but, for some reason, it never happened. I’ve been very happy having a good non-league career and you can’t really argue with it.

“I just enjoy my football and want to play for as long as I can. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have football. It has been such a routine in my life for numerous years so I’m just making the most of it.”

Poole boss Tom Killick, whose team will be hoping to follow up their Maidenhead win when they host Bishop’s Stortford at Tatnam tomorrow (3pm), certainly thinks highly of Gillespie: “If I’m here for another 10 years, I would stick with him because I know what he’s got to offer.

“It was common knowledge in the summer that I tried to sign Justin Bennett, Warren Bentley and a couple of other forwards.

“If anyone had said Richard had to go the other way, I wouldn’t have entertained it. That’s how highly I think of him and wouldn’t have swapped him for any of those players because I think he’s better.

“He is such a proper person in everything he does and really deserves a bit of luck when it comes to injuries and I hope that happens.

“We know the difference in games is going to be more minimal at this level and having people of his quality is what you need in those tight game, as was the case against Maidenhead.”