REDDITCH United have announced the appointment of Jacintha Hodgson as the club’s new director.

Hodgson first linked up with the club in 2011 with the Worcester YMCA, in which they forged a community partnership aimed at helping young people in the town and has been involved ever since.

She said: “I am delighted to be appointed as the club’s director and be a part of the Redditch United family. My aim is to bring a community feel to the club. Now we have the academy, more mums have been attending games, and my mission is to make this a club parents can bring the family to and have a great time.”

Chairman and owner of Redditch United, Chris Swan, said: “We have seen the amazing work Jacintha has done for the community, and we knew that she would be a perfect fit here at Redditch United. As we aim to continue our work in the town, Jacintha will play a vital role in this as we look to keep young people off the streets and encourage them to participate in projects that will benefit Redditch as a whole.”

Before joining The Reds, Hodgson enjoyed a successful career in a number of sectors including roles in IT and customer service and she currently works in the NHS. She has been involved with the Worcester YMCA since 2000 where she is a director.

Born in Northern Ireland but raised in the Republic, she knows all too well the importance of bringing a community together, and a club like Redditch United is no exception to this.

When not dedicating her time to the community, Hodgson still likes to stay involved locally and enjoys going for walks, spending time with her family and is currently enrolled on a counselling course at college.