Tooting & Mitcham boss Mark Beard reveals it was his classroom connections that has enabled the Terrors to bring German teenage sensation Monty Gimpel to Imperial Fields.

Beard this week unveiled Gimpel as one of his surprise summer moves, along with Dartford striker Rob Haworth.

And the Tooting manager is licking his lips at the prospect of the highly-touted 16-year-old Gimpel, recently named English Schools Player of the Year, heading to the Stripes.

Beard said: “The move came about as I help out with the coaching at Ardingly School in Wessex.

“The school went on tour to Valencia last summer and when we were heading out there we were told a German kid was going to join up with us as he was enrolling at the school.

“Apparently he had been captain and player of the year for Hanover’s youth team, but I did not pay that much attention to it.

“We ended up playing the Valencia youth team and Monty played at centre half and he was unbelievable.

“Since then I have been working with him at the school and he is an amazing talent.

“As he wants to carry on his education he is not interested in a pro club yet, so we have managed to tempt him down to Tooting at least for this season.”

The 6ft plus defender is making waves in his native country, with a German documentary crew filming a special programme on these shores last week.

And with Leeds United tracking the youngster, Beard reckons Tooting fans are in for a real treat.

He added: “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.”