Marketing and communications specialist, long-time Fitzroy Football Club volunteer, Gabrielle Murphy, has joined the Fitzroy Football Club Board.

Gabrielle works at the University of Melbourne and has also played an instrumental role in establishing the recently-opened Bargoonga Nganjin, Fitzroy North Library, after 25 years of campaigning and work as a member of Friends of the North Fitzroy Library.

Until this year, Gabby could most often be seen escorting the umpires to and from the field for the senior games at Brunswick Street Oval in her volunteer capacity as umpire escort.

Gabby is the mother of Fitzroy backman, Max Ellis and former player, Monty

She will take on the role of Director Volunteering, which has been vacant this season.

Fitzroy has given me and my family years of happy watching and involvement. Now Im looking forward to donating some of my time and energy to continue the work the club does in making our community richer and better./p>

President Joan Eddy welcomed the appointment and said Gabby brings a wealth of skill in the area of community activism and project involvement with experience in the establishment of Fitzroy High School and Fitzroy North Library just to name a couple.

Shes also a long-time volunteer in footy in Fitzroy, first with the juniors and now the senior club, and her professional background in marketing and communications will also strengthen our development in these key areas.

The club is still on the hunt for a Director of Football.

Photo: Gabrielle Murphy showing the ropes to new umpire escort, Graham Brennan.