WESTBURY United has seen a change at the top level of the club after appointing ex-player and overseer of the youth set-up, Phil Hampson, as the new chairman.
Phil says his main objective for the club is to focus efforts on improving the youth set-up even further and continuing the successes the club has seen on the pitch in recent years. Phil recently took over the youth-set up to help establish a clear pathway for young players to the first team. He takes over from out-going chairman, Sam Gooding, who will now work behind the scenes as treasurer and a trustee.
“Our short terms plans are to stabilise the club and try to keep the focus on the great things the first team management team and players have been doing over the past few years,” Phil explained. “Make no mistake, our main objective going forward is to centre everything around youth development. Any successful club has strong roots and our plan to sustain the highest possible level of football and a strong youth set up is paramount.
“We are in the process of building a full youth and development section, with teams from U7s right though to U18’. I believe a great club is one stood on strong foundations giving opportunity and pathways to senior football for local kids.
“We are all about long term stabilisation and steady growth; my hope is for an honest local football club built on strong foundations and it would be great to see some our current crop of youth players one day playing for the first team.”
Phil says he is “extremely excited” to take on the new role and added, “I’ve played for Westbury but most certainly not at the level we currently play at so it’s all new for me. I do however feel really confident from a professional standpoint; I have a real belief in basic principles in work and life centring around organisation, communication and honesty. If I can successfully combine these principles into the club alongside our future plans, I think we’ll be ok.”
Speaking about the future of the youth set-up following Phil’s new role at the club, he said, “I intend to put even more concentration into youth and development as strong foundations are absolutely key to a bright future. One of the main positives with our club is its full of great people, and whilst I feel my experience will help the club, it’s most certainly a team game and our biggest strength is our team.
“Jim Pickernell and Laura Dredge are stepping in as co-vice chairs respectively, specialising in youth and match day areas. Jim has been integral in the conception of our youth set-up and coupled with Laura’s unrivalled experience in relation to the match day running of our club, we are in great position to move forward.”
The out-going chairman, Sam Gooding, who oversaw a Wiltshire Premier Shield victory and an impressive tenth placed finish in the club’s first ever Southern League season at his time at the club, will now work behind the scenes through the role of treasurer and a trustee.
Sam has praised Phil for his commitment to the club and says that the club is in safe hands.
“I decided to step back from the role of chair for a couple of reasons,” he explained. “Firstly, time constraints. The club wishes to continue on its successful journey and to take the next step it needs someone as committed as Phil and with the time available to make the next move.
“I was thrust in at the deep end last July and am proud that the club had its most successful season ever under mine and club secretary Chris Tregoning’s stewardship last year, winning the Wiltshire Premier Shield and a tenth-place finish in the Southern League Division One.
“Phil can now really push the team and club forward and match the ambition of the manager and players in a combined effort to keep the club progressing up the football pyramid. I am sure there will be further successes ahead with Phil at the helm.”
