Wales Under-19 international forward Phoebie Poole joins Cheltenham Town Ladies

Cheltenham Town Ladies have bolstered their squad ahead of the upcoming 2023/24 season with the arrival of Wales Under-19 international forward Phoebie Poole.

Joining from Cardiff City, Poole joins Tom Davies’ side after three successful years in the Adran Premiership, seeing the 19-year-old score a staggering 37 goals in 45 appearances, and being part of the title winning squad last term with the Bluebirds.

Poole was delighted with her switch to Gloucestershire and emphasised how she wanted to keep up her fantastic goalscoring form in the Women’s National League Southern Premier Division.

Poole said: “The way in which Tom, Meg (Harding) and Dan (Liddiard) want to play means it’s going to be simple to carry those into this team.

“Hopefully I can score more and assist more people. This club definitely caught my eye.”

Poole still lives in Cardiff, however that hasn’t hampered her first few weeks as a Cheltenham player.

I’ve settled in really well, the girls are lovely, I’m very lucky to be learning off some really experienced players,” she said.

“Some of them can’t understand our Welsh accent, but hopefully that’ll come with spending more time with them!

The 19-year-old has represented her country at Under-19 level 10 times. Poole explained to us how she would love a call up for the senior squad sometime soon, potentially at a future Women’s World Cup.

Poole said: “There’s so many young girls watching now, dreaming of their country winning the World Cup. Hopefully when Wales get there one day, it’ll be a proud moment for us Welshies, but even prouder if I’m on the pitch.”

With the tournament well underway in Australia and New Zealand, the Welsh youth international was asked who might lift the trophy in Sydney on Sunday, August 20.

“I really want Australia to win it, but I reckon the USA will do it,” Poole concluded.

Robins manager Davies was delighted with the move, stating: “Phoebie’s a huge talent and terrific goalscorer. She’s stepped up and led the way with her goal tally year on year.

“We’re delighted that she’s agreed to sign and be part of the next stage in our journey.”

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It was reported last week that Cheltenham are in a race for the 20-year-old with the League Two duo, as the young defender is set for a loan move away from Stoke City this summer.

However, it is now believed that Graham Alexander’s side are out of the race for the Welshman, who has signed a contract extension at the bet365 Stadium.

The centre-back played alongside another of the Don’s new signings, Cameron Norman, at Newport County last season, spending the second half of the season on loan from the Potters.

Although the heart of the defence is a position the Buckinghamshire-based outfit will look to strengthen ahead of the new season, MK Dons have turned their attentions to other targets, which could include New Zealand international Tommy Smith, who was part of their training camp in Germany following his release from Colchester United.

A product of the Gillingham academy, before a move to Staffordshire in 2021, Baker made his Football League debut whilst on loan for the Exiles last season, appearing 18 times as Newport finished 15th in League Two.

Now only two clubs remain in the hunt for his signature, with Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke reporting Stoke are keen to send the Welsh U21 international as high up the pyramid as possible, in order to continue his development.

Cheltenham are in the market for a centre-back following the loan expiry of defender Caleb Taylor, who has since returned to West Bromwich Albion.

Writer’s View

With Stoke keen on sending the versatile defender, who can also operate as a defensive midfielder, as high up the leagues as possible, it seems even more likely that Cheltenham have found their new centre-back for the season, now that MK Dons have dropped out of the race.

A new contract suggests Alex Neil sees Baker as one for the future, and having already played at the highest youth level for Wales, he could be a really important addition as the Robins look to establish themselves in League One.