Cheltenham Town are thrilled to welcome two new members of the backroom staff as a new team comes together away from the pitch at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium.
Richard Joyce joins us as our Media and Communications Manager while Luke Saunders becomes our new Commercial Assisant.
Richard previously worked at Forest Green Rovers for six years, initially in a part-time role before progressing to become the club's full time Press Officer after graduating in journalism from the University of Gloucestershire.
At the end of the 2015/16 season he was a part of Scott Bartlett's caretaker management team that helped Forest Green reach the 2016 National League play-off final at Wembley.
For the following 2016/17 campaign he stepped up to become the club's First Team Video Analyst as they gained promotion to the Football League as National League play-off winners for the first time.
He has more recently been part of the communications team at Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, and spent last season as analyst at Brimscombe & Thrupp before joining Southern Premier Central outfit Redditch United in the same role at the start of this season.
"A lot of hard work is going into improving the club's media and communications at the moment so we're really pleased to have Richard and Luke on board," said Murry Toms, former Fans Elected Director who has been helping out in the interim.
"Joycie brings a huge amount of press and marketing experience to the role and has the simple brief of getting the town excited about our club again.
"We need to bring the management, players and supporters much closer together to get back to where we want to be, something he successfully achieved in Nailsworth.
Locally based lifelong Robins fan Luke Saunders is becoming our new Commercial Assistant following a successful year-long internship at the club last year and having graduated from the University of Gloucestershire with a degree in BA Sports Journalism.
Luke replaces James Stone, who is leaving us for pastures new having joined the club in a full-time capacity at the start of the summer.
"Luke has been a familiar face around the club in recent times, working with us on the media side of matchdays and will play a vital support role to the team at the ground," Murry added.
"James is a popular character and has made a huge impact in his time at the club. We will miss his energy around the place.
"Everyone at the club wishes him the very best for the future."