TEAM boss Neil Middleditch insisted Pirates were hungry to add to their silverware collection this season – as they got on track at Wimborne Road for the first time on Friday.

The Dorset club won every competition they entered last campaign, sealing the SGB Championship as well as the division’s Knockout Cup.

Pirates have the opportunity to defend those crowns in 2022, as well as pouch another title in the form of the newly-created Championship Summer Trophy.

Middleditch himself is one of the most decorated managers in the sport, having won nine league titles and an array of trophies across his illustrious career.

And the Pirates legend is still hungrier than ever to add more silverware to the cabinet at Wimborne Road.

Put to him that nobody loved silverware more than owner Matt Ford, with Middleditch a very close second, the team boss said: “Yeah, that’s right, nine titles, it would be nice to get to 10 wouldn’t it? With the league. That’s 23 trophies – not that I am counting!

“Winning is everything, really. People will say it’s not the winning, it’s the taking part.

“But we want it, that’s it.

“The boys are all hungry for it, I’m sure. The club comes with a huge history - those titles are three that we'd like to get this year.”

Pirates are set to begin their cup campaign with an away trip to Plymouth on Tuesday, April 5, before hosting the Gladiators in the second leg a day later.

And with four new faces in the septet from their 2021 line-up, Middleditch believes Poole can reach lofty heights once again.

“I think that’s going to be key – a bit of improvement,” he added.

“Some people look at us and think ‘oh, maybe not as good as last year’ but I think we can be every bit as good as last year.”

Pirates’ first league contest comes at Birmingham on Wednesday, April 13.