MICHAIL ANTONIO'S Tooting & Mitcham United team-mates heard about him before they'd even saw him.
Back in 2008, a young Antonio was causing a stir at the Ryman Premier club having risen through their youth ranks.
Before long they got the chance to see what the fuss was all about, as the winger burst into the first team before landing a big move to Reading.
A little over eight years later, the 26-year-old's commanded more than £8m in transfer fees, plays in the Premier League for West Ham United and received his first senior England call-up for Sunday's game against Slovakia.
Striker Paul Vines, now at Thamesmead, couldn't be more pleased for the quiet teenager who made a big noise on the pitch.
Gelled
“I remember him being with the reserves and hearing talk about this young kid who was lighting the place up,” Vines told The NLP.
“My brother Joe saw him play and he came back to the gaffer, Billy Smith, and said: ‘You've got to have a look at this kid. He's a bit raw, but he's like a bulldozer and he's running through men like they're not there'.
“He came in, he was fairly quiet – a typical young teenager. He didn't like losing but he enjoyed his football and we got him into the fold fairly quickly. He had a throw-in like a bullet, which is nice if you're not bad at heading like myself!
“But you'd give Michail the ball and he'd cause people all sorts of problems. From teenagers to grown men who had been playing at the level for years.
“It wasn't a great surprise because he came in and had an impact on a squad that had already gelled. He just lit it up.”
Antonio returned to his former club for a training session with local children last March, and was also seen going through his paces with a fitness coach at his old ground during the summer.
The boy whose mum had to be convinced he should be allowed to play by the Terrors' coaches has come a long way.
Dream
“Joe sent me a report the other day of a game against Wealdstone,” Vines said. “They were one of the teams to beat and we won 3-0. I scored two and Michail got the other on his debut. That's where it all started.
“The report was saying how he was a threat all game and finished his debut with a fine solo goal.
“It's funny to think back. Back then we were talking to this young lad, saying, ‘Well done,' and sometimes giving him a gee up and a boost. Now he's sitting with Big Sam in front of the media talking about England!”
Vines says the former Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest man's story sends out a positive message.
“It's a great thing for Non-League football and all the young boys out there who have that dream,” Vines said.
“Whether it's faltering or they've given up on it, Michail is showing if you want it enough it can happen. And it shows those players are there to be looked at.”
