GREAT entertainer Chris Holder can rise up the Pirates rankings to join the elite names in the club’s history.

That is the view of Poole legend and former Wimborne Road skipper Pete Smith.

Smith, inset, progressed through the Pirates ranks during the 1960s and 70s to eventually become club captain.

His record as the club’s all-time leading point scorer stood for 20 years before he was overtaken by Craig Boyce, who remains top of the tree.

Smith stands third behind Boyce and Bjarne Pedersen, while current skipper and number one Holder has rapidly worked his way up to 15th on the list.

If Holder repeats his heroics of last year during his fifth season in Dorset, he would be on the verge of a top-10 spot.

Smith, who runs the Verwood Ford car dealership, thinks the Grand Prix star can continue his form this term, with Pirates preparing to begin their Elite League title defence against Coventry on Good Friday.

Smith told the Daily Echo: “The guy has got the potential to carry on and do as well as he is doing.

“To get into the situation regarding being world class, if he carries on in the manner that he is, he can do that. He has got everything going for him at the moment.

“Backed by a good management at Poole, he is a lucky lad.

“He has done very well for himself. Entertainment-value wise, he is very good as far as the supporters are concerned. As far as the club is concerned, he is a good point-scorer so he is a valuable asset to the club.

“As we move on and looking at the way he is going at the present moment, there is no reason on earth why he can’t get into the top-10 points scorers for the club.

“He has got everything running for him. I have seen him when I have been down to the club and he is good entertainment value.”