WESTBURY UNITED | STRONG FOUNDATIONS

New Chairman sets out his vision for the club

Pitching In Southern League Division One South club, Westbury United, have announced Phil Hampson as their new Chairman.

Born and bred in the town, he is a former player for the club who still turns out for the veterans’ team and has been working hard since the summer to get the youth section up and running.

We sat down and chatted to him about the task that lies ahead and his vision for the future of the club.

“First and foremost, I am immensely proud and extremely privileged to help guide the club forward,” he told us. “To be completely honest, it’s something I’ve always quite liked the thought of taking on, but you never really think it’s something that would actually happen or if you’re even qualified enough to do it, so it’s nice to have that trust bestowed upon you.

“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 okay!

“Our short-term 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.

“The main objective going forward is to centre everything around youth development. We are in the process of adding a full youth and development section, with teams from U7s right though to U18s.

“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.

“I love a challenge, and this is most certainly one of them! One of the main positives with our club is its full of great people, and whilst I feel my experience will help the club, its most certainly a team game and our biggest strength is our people.

“If I can help guide us to our objectives centring around the principles I have spoken about; I'll be an extremely proud man.”

Last weekend’s 2-0 victory over Bemerton Heath Harlequins made it 16 points from their 16 League games so far.

“It's been a tough start to the season, I can’t lie,” added Hampson. “We’ve suffered a fair few injuries and lost key players, but the way the lads dig in is inspiring.

“We knew it was a huge step up for our football club and this League is ridiculously competitive, but we feel we fight for everything and its never an easy game against Westbury United.

“We fully intend to show people that we deserve to be here and establish ourselves at this level.”

It’s an away trip on Saturday as they travel to face a Bashley outfit that sit just a couple of places behind them in the table.

IMAGE: Martin Pearce

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