Tooting star heads to Bournemouth (From Your Local Guardian)

Tooting star heads to Bournemouth

9:00am Tuesday 18th May 2010

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Mitchell Nelson looks set to follow in the footsteps of Michail Antonio after the Tooting & Mitcham defender was snapped up by AFC Bournemouth this week.

Central defender Nelson has signed a three-year deal at Dean Court after being spotted by the Cherries in recent trial games for Reading and Crystal Palace.

And the 20-year-old former Colchester trainee admits he is thrilled at the news.

Nelson said: “It feels great.

“Last year at Tooting I really missed not training and being around football every day.

“To go to a team that have just gone up to League One is a dream.

“It is all really exciting.

“I think Reading and Palace were both looking at giving me deals but Bournemouth contacted me and said they could offer me something better.

“Eddie Howe told me I have everything I need to succeed, and it will just be a case of sorting out a few points in my game when I get down there.”

Nelson will report to training in July, and is also set to move home from South London to the South Coast.

And with a transfer fee likely to swell the coffers at Imperial Fields, Nelson was eager to pay tribute to former mentor Billy Smith.

He added: “Billy gave me a lot of confidence over the last season and I owe him a lot.

“Both he and George Wakeling kept telling me they knew I was a player and just to keep doing what I was doing.

“That gave me a real boost and I really enjoyed my time there.

“Tooting have a great reputation as a place to get spotted thanks to what happened with Michail going to Reading and I know there are more youngsters who want to go there.

“I have good memories from being at Tooting but now I am moving on.”

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