TEENAGE defender Dan Strugnell is keen to continue his rise from the Dean Court terraces to the Cherries first team after being rewarded with a new contract.

The Bournemouth-born 19-year-old, who earned a 12-month deal, was one of only two out-of-contract players to feature on new boss Paul Groves’s retained list.

Christchurch-raised Strugnell joined the Cherries centre of excellence as a 12-year-old and was a season ticket holder until he was taken on as an apprentice.

Strugnell, who enjoyed fruitful loan spells with Wimborne and Bashley during the season, was also handed a shock debut by former boss Lee Bradbury.

The former youth team captain came off the bench to replace broken leg victim Stephen Purches during Cherries’ 1-0 defeat at Rochdale in February.

Strugnell said: “It has been a great learning experience for me this season. I enjoyed the two loan spells with Wimborne and Bashley and making my debut for the first team was a dream come true.

“I started the season at Wimborne and had three good months there. It was the first time I had had a run of games in men’s football. It was good because they were in a relegation battle and we were playing for points, something I had never really done before.

“I played a few reserve games around Christmas and then made my debut at Rochdale. The circumstances were unfortunate because of the injury to Purchy but it was good to be involved.

“Bashley was a step up from Wimborne in terms of division and I had another good run of games with them. I had a taste of everything in my first year as a pro and it was great.”

Strugnell, who played youth football for Grange, will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of Jamie Redknapp and Neil Moss, two famous former pupils of Twynham School in Christchurch.

Fast-tracked into the first-team environment by former boss Eddie Howe, Strugnell is likely to be involved in a newly-formed development squad at Seward Stadium next season.

Strugnell added: “I would hope to be more involved with the first team next season. I will work hard in training and see what happens. I am just delighted to have another year. It is always a nervous time for the out-of-contract lads and I was wondering what was going to happen. I was really nervous when I got called in and was delighted to get offered a new deal.

“It has been a whirlwind first season and I pretty much saw everything in my first year as a pro. It all adds to the experience and the season has absolutely flown. I have got to try to impress as much as I can and hope I get an opportunity.”

• Defender Gary Bowles, who also signed a one-year contract with Cherries, declined an invitation to be interviewed by the Daily Echo.

Posting on social networking site Twitter, however, Bowles said he had a lot of people to “prove wrong and laugh at” after earning his new deal.