DAVID Jerrard didn’t win Dorchester Town’s most promising reserve team player-of-the-year award for nothing.

In fact his new manager Jay Keating at Folland Sports would stake his reputation on the teenage forward having a future far higher up the football pyramid.

Keating, who took over the reins at Follands Park earlier this summer after co-managing Dorchester’s reserves, said: “I won’t be able to keep hold of him for long.

“I’ve been speaking to two full-time clubs about him who are going to see how he matures.

“There have been Southern League clubs looking at him too, but he’s being loyal and wants to stay with me.”

Jerrard spent seven years with AFC Bournemouth as a youngster and a further two with the Sparsholt Football Academy which runs in partnership with Saints.

“He came to me at Dorchester last summer and scored a ridiculous amount of goals. He works so hard and covers every blade of grass and he’s very dedicated as well,” said Keating.

“He lives near Salisbury and dual-signed for Bemerton towards the end of last season and I know Kempy (Bemerton boss Graham Kemp) was very keen on getting him again.

“David’s just turned 18 and he’s 6ft plus too. He should have got games in the first team at Dorchester but they've gone a different way there, which is fine.

“He’ll start the season with me but I honestly believe that one of the professional clubs will get hold of him and he’ll get into their development squad.

“People do move from the Wessex League and go higher and I bet you this time next year he’s at a pro club.”

Jerrard is not the only talent Keating is convinced will make a big impression for the Planemakers.

He has also signed another ex-Dorchester lad, defensive midfielder Scott Walters, who learned his trade playing for Benamiel in Malaga, where Real Madrid’s Spain international Isco started out.

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Daily Echo:

Scott Walters (above)

Originally from Birmingham, Walters has family in Poole, but his brand of football is distinctly Spanish. “Scott’s learned tiki-taka football and does everything simple,” said Keating.

Defensively Follands should benefit from the experience of 26-year-old Lee Phibbs, who has been on the books of Ringwood Town in Sydenhams One.

“Lee’s been taking it easy playing below the level he can,” Keating explained. “We tried to sign him at Dorchester but he lives in Southampton and couldn’t do the travelling.

Daily Echo:

Lee Phibbs (right, above)

“Frighteningly he’ll probably be our oldest player at 26. You’ve either got money or youth these days.

“I can showcase these players at Follands and they’ll look a million dollars in the Wessex League.”