BASINGSTOKE Town Football Club has appointed Simon Hood, the man behind the club's link-up with Soccer AM, to its executive board as director of marketing.

Hood - who was named North Hampshire Inspire Young Business Person of the Year in 2013 - is now one of the country’s youngest football directors.

Town chairman, Rafi Razzak, said: “Since joining us as head of marketing earlier this year, Simon has played a pivotal role in what is already becoming an incredibly exciting season.

“We recently announced an important partnership with Sky television’s Soccer AM - including the renaming of our current stadium - and we achieved this through Simon’s efforts.

“I’m delighted to welcome him to the board here at Basingstoke Town FC and I look forward to successful times ahead for him and for the football club.”

Simon is also head of marketing for global relocation firm HCR - and he is keen to make further use of his expertise and experience over the coming seasons.

“I am thrilled that the club has got off to such an amazing start to the season - both on and off the pitch," Hood said. "And I’m very much looking forward to progressing more commercial opportunities here - beginning with our partnership with Soccer AM.

“Becoming a board member is an incredible honour and I’m delighted to be taking on the challenge of creating a club that is self sufficient and at the heart of this close-knit community.”