On average, AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust works with over 4000 children and adults across 100 sessions per week, for children as young as one-year old to adults over 50. 

The addition of these new staff members will allow for the Community Sports Trust to have even greater reach within the local community.

Those appointed into the trust are:

Luke Simpson - Senior Manager 

Luke will oversee Education and Health projects and has previously worked within education, winning the Football League Girls Cup at Wembley with Broadstone Middle School in 2014. 

Daryl Hobson - Premier League Kicks Co-ordinator 

Daryl has been appointed to oversee the delivery and expansion of the Premier League Kicks programme. Last season, the programme successfully delivered free football to over 1200 young people in the Bournemouth and Poole areas, this season Daryl will look to develop the programme even further into Christchurch. 

David Staddon - Women and Girls Development Officer 

David’s appointment sees him take over the running of the AFC Bournemouth Women and Girl’s teams, as well as the Premier League Girls programme which offers our turn up and play sessions. David will continue develop the Girls Football programme for the Community Sports Trust, which has been a key area of development over the previous years. 

Sam Thomas - Community Coach 

Sam is a university graduate, who studied sport at university. He will be working specifically with our Linked Clubs. 

Ben Cooper - Community Coach 

An ex-Scholar at AFC Bournemouth, Ben has gained his coaching badges and come back to work within the Community Sports Trust. 

Poppy Hansford - Second Year Apprentice 

Poppy has spent a year already working with AFC Bournemouth’s under-14 girls, who won the treble last season. She has also previously assisted on Community Sports Trust sessions throughout the last year. 

Steph Small - Second Year Apprentice 

Steph has played as a goalkeeper for AFC Bournemouth Ladies’ Development Squad for the previous two seasons and won promotion both years.  

Katie Scadding - First Year Apprentice 

Katie plays for AFC Bournemouth Ladies’ Development Squad, after a successful year playing for the under-16 girls. She already knows Senior Manager, Luke Simpson, who was her teacher when she won the Football League Girls Cup in 2014. 

Rhianna Fallon - First Year Apprentice 

Rhianna has completed two years of education on the Community Sports Trust’s Football Education Programme. She has now progressed into coaching, and will specifically be working with AFC Bournemouth’s under-10 girls.

Following the appointments, AFC Bournemouth’s Head of Community Steve Cuss spoke of his delight at adding to the team.

“We are very much looking forward to a new season of work and expanding our offers and projects to reach and engage with the local community,” he said.

"I would like to welcome all the new members of staff to the Community team.”