By Steve Tervet

Charlie Sheringham has paid tribute to Dartford for giving him the platform to return to the Football League with AFC Bournemouth last week.

The striker, whose early-season form for the Darts attracted the attention of the League 1 club, completed his move to the Seward Stadium last Thursday for a fee believed to be in the region of £25,000.

Sheringham (pictured), the son of former Manchester United and England striker Teddy, spent the early part of his career on the books of Crystal Palace and Ipswich.

However, the 23-year-old turned to the non-league circuit in pursuit of regular first-team football and after spells with Welling and Bishop’s Stortford, he joined Dartford in June 2010.

After a slow start at Princes Park, he began to find his best form after Christmas and his goals helped fire the Darts to a top-half finish in their maiden Blue Square Bet South campaign. The trend continued at the start of this season, with Sheringham finding the net 11 times in 12 league appearances.

Bournemouth pursued the frontman for several weeks, as did League 2 Dagenham, before the former agreed a fee with Dartford.

While thrilled by his Cherries move, Sheringham admitted the transfer was tinged with sadness at leaving the Darts.

He said: "It’s a great club, with great people who run the club. They were good to me and I enjoyed my time at Dartford.

"I played at Welling for a year and did quite well there. I did quite well at Bishop’s Stortford, I had a little bit of a dip at Histon in a struggling team and then Dartford came in and I spoke to them.

"It’s a big club, with a big fanbase and a great stadium. I couldn’t turn the opportunity down. I loved my time there. I made a slow start in a new team which had just been promoted but since January of last year, I loved it.

"I’ll always have fond memories of Dartford but when someone from a higher level comes calling, you go for it."

Sheringham was an unused substitute as Bournemouth lost 2-1 at home to Bury on Saturday but made his debut when he came on in the 1-1 draw at Colchester on Tuesday night.

Full story in this week's Gravesend and Dartford Messenger.