WHEN Marc Pugh joined Cherries in 2010, his only ambition was to forge a career for himself as a professional footballer.

Seven years later, he is on the brink of completing the “amazing achievement” of becoming the club’s 20th highest league appearance-maker.

He chalked up his 247th outing in the draw with Liverpool on Wednesday to draw level with Jack Hayward, who played for Cherries in the 1920s.

And, all being well, Pugh, who celebrated his 30th birthday on Sunday, will surpass the tough-tackling defender by featuring against Chelsea tomorrow.

Liverpool and Chelsea: it is all a far cry from the time, eight years ago, when he was dumped on the scrapheap, considered “not good enough” for Shrewsbury Town.

Talking exclusively to the Daily Echo, Pugh said: “It is an amazing achievement. I am really proud of it.

“I love playing football and doing well for Bournemouth. I have created some amazing memories at this club.

“When I joined, all I wanted to do was make a career in the game. I got a one-year contract at Hereford in 2009. I was 22 and, after being released by Shrewsbury and told I wasn’t good enough, I knew it was a massive opportunity for me.”

Little did Pugh know it, but he had actually seized that opportunity within two months of signing on at Edgar Street, when he scored both goals as Hereford beat Cherries 2-1 in a League Two encounter.

A seed was sown in the mind of the manager in the visiting dugout that night.

That seed germinated when Pugh struck again at Dean Court later in the same 2009-10 season and Eddie Howe went and got his man, a move that enabled the player to make the jump to League One.

“I just knew I wanted to do everything I could to be a professional footballer and make a name for myself in the game,” continued Pugh, who has scored 44 goals in those 247 league games.

“Playing in the Premier League was a dream of mine – but I would never have believed, seven years later, that Bournemouth would be there.”

A northern soul, Pugh was born in Lancashire and reared in Burnley's academy.

Today, he is very much a man of Bournemouth.

“It is a big part of my life,” he said. “I have brought up my children here. Me and my wife have lived here for seven years and we love the place.

“I love the fans to bits, I love everything about the club and it just means an awful lot to me that I have been given this opportunity to play in the best league in the world.”

Pugh played 26 times in the Premier League last season. This time round, though, a hamstring injury and fierce competition for places kept him waiting until December 13 for his first start in the competition.

And, to continue a theme, when his chance came, he grabbed it in telling style, scoring the goal that downed champions Leicester City at Vitality Stadium.

“When I wasn’t in the team and facing tough challenges, when we were bringing in new players, I had to prove myself all over again,” said Pugh. “It was important not to let my head drop and to keep myself fit.

“I still look back at the Leicester game. I had been out of the team a long time, sometimes not making the bench.

“But you need to be ready when you’re called upon. I am just delighted I am taking my chance at the moment and long may that continue.”

While Pugh, nor anybody else in the near future, is going to threaten Steve Fletcher’s record 628 Cherries league appearances, he has designs on making a dent in the indefatigable striker’s tally before he is done.

“I’ve got another 10 years left in me!” he joked.

“But, seriously, I feel a lot better physically than I did when I was 22 or 23 and playing in the lower leagues.

“You have all the information given to you now whereas, back in the day, you used to not eat or recover so well.

“Fitness-wise, I feel the best I ever have... and I have a lot of years left in me yet.

“Now I just want to make more memories and have more success.”

Cherries' top-20 appearance-makers

628 – Steve Fletcher

430 – Neil Young

423 – Sean O’Driscoll

415 – Ray Bumstead

383 – Keith Miller

358 – James Hayter

357 – Tommy Godwin

343 – Paul Morrell

304 – Ron Eyre

284 – John Impey

277 – Stephen Purches

273 – Laurie Cunningham

272 – Dai Woodward

269 – Brett Pitman

265 – Ian Drummond

264 – Ronnie Bolton

263 – Warren Cummings

262 – Eddie Howe

249 – Ken Bird

247 – Jack Hayward

247 – Marc Pugh