AFC BOURNEMOUTH’S Winchester-born defender Baily Cargill believes a loan spell at AFC Totton was a launchpad for his professional football career.

The former Saints academy man, 21, joined the Cherries from St Mary’s in 2008 and went out to the Testwood Stadium to gain experience in 2012/13, winning the Stags’ player-of-the-year award along the way.

“I was at AFC Totton as a second-year scholar and that really put me in the right direction,” he said.

“I was really nervous when I first went there. I felt like I was playing in the Premier League! It was completely different to anything I had been used to.

“I was going up against players who had played at that level for a long time and they knew how to play in that league so I had to learn quickly and I think I did.

“It probably wasn’t the most important loan in terms of the technical side of football but for me to become a bit more physical and learn the game that way, it was a very good loan.

“I played a lot of games and learned a lot.”

Cargill was originally at Leicester City’s academy, but joined the youth programme at Saints for two years from 2006-2008.

He had a season ticket at St Mary’s and celebrated on the pitch when Saints were promoted back to the Premier League in 2012. He and his family are all Saints supporters.

The defender has had loan spells at Welling United, Torquay United, Coventry and has been at Gillingham this season, making ten appearances.

But he’s now back at the Cherries as they prepare to head to St Mary’s this weekend.

As he aims to make a further breakthrough, having made his Premier League debut at Manchester United earlier this month, Cargill has encouraged others to take the non-league route.

He said: “Under-21s football is completely different to men’s football and professional football.

Even if you are going on loan to somewhere like AFC Totton, it’s probably more worthwhile than playing an under-18s or under- 21s game because they are not as physical or taxing.

“I would definitely say to anyone of my age or younger who wanted to get experience, to go out on loan.

“I’ve played in front of 100 people at Totton and played in front of 75,000 at Old Trafford, so it’s been a big road for me.”