Introducing Tooting's Monty Gimpel: Wunderkind?

The news that Grays Athletic's appeal against their demotion into the footballing wilderness has been successful, with the Essex side set to join the Ryman Premier League, has dominated the non-league scene in the south east this week. Elsewhere, positive moves are afoot at Tooting & Mitcham United and the supporters are buzzing. From adversity, it seems the club is emerging into a new season full of excitement, new stars and - whisper it - promise.

As the season ended, manager Billy Smith and assistant George Wakeling left the club after confirmation that the playing budget would be significantly cut ahead of the 2010/11 campaign. One mostly civil and very reassuring Members' Club EGM later (I can't go into the details) and the mood has lifted, helped by the appointment of an untested but exciting and ambitious manager in former Sheffield United, Stevenage and Wimbledon defender Mark Beard.

A few weeks later, Beard has begun rebuilding the squad in earnest. The wage cut means that several vital players will not return to the club when pre-season training begins. In their stead, Beard has begun to bring in a blend of reliable non-league experience and mouth-watering young talent. After securing the signatures of Gambian internationals Hasim Deen from Curzon Ashton and Hassan Nyang from Horsham, Beard again headed into the transfer market and brought in Dartford striker Rob Howarth, Kingstonian goalkeeper Luke Garrard, Horsham full back Nigel Brake, Merstham centre back Craig Vernon and Hampton & Richmond midfielder Karl Beckford.

Joining Vernon on the club's centre half roster, weakened by the loss of captain Joe Vines and Mitchell Nelson, is one Montgomery Gimpel. Gimpel is one of the most exciting prospects in the country, a tall, 16-year-old centre back who is officially the cream of the English schoolboys crop. He's a sixth former at Ardingly College, whose former players include Frank Lampard (Junior), and in May was named Independent Schools Football Association Player of the Year for 2009/10. His award gained him national newspaper recognition, comparisons with former schoolboy sensation Ryan Giggs and labels like "one of the best players I had seen on the schools circuit".

Not bad for a teenager from Hanover. So how did Monty Gimpel, a young German who represents the English schoolboy system at a national level and has reportedly been offered the chance to train with Leeds United, end up signing for Tooting & Mitcham of the Ryman Premier League? It's a story of a kid with his head screwed on and a manager dedicated to his sport. Gimpel is successful academically as well as athletically and has admirably chosen to see out his education to at least A-level standard. He'll be there faster than most: he's in the year above the one he belongs in by age.

As a result, the option to play semi-professional football before his inevitable move into the full-time professional ranks fits quite nicely. Fortunately for Tooting, Beard helps out with the coaching at Ardingly and has been working with Gimpel since its Valencia tour in 2009. If the incoming manager's opinion of the former Hanover youth skipper is accurate, supporters at Imperial Fields will be in for a fantastic season from their new defender. In an interview with the Surrey Comet, Beard explained why Gimpel is heading for a special footballing future:

"Monty has everything he needs to be a great professional footballer. He has two good feet, he is quick and strong in the air. He is extremely comfortable on the ball and he reads the game superbly. Obviously I cannot say for definite that he will make the first team but we are certainly lucky to have him. Tooting has a real reputation for quality youngsters over the past couple of seasons with Michail Antonio and Mitchell Nelson and there is no doubt Monty will reach that level."

Judging by the success of Antonio on loan at Southampton and Nelson's warm reception by AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe, Gimpel's move to Tooting might just be a good one for everyone involved. I can't wait to see what he can do.