HARRY Arter hopes his rapid ascent up the ladder will convince non-league’s undiscovered diamonds that they can make the mammoth trek to the top flight.

The all-action midfielder was five years ago plying his trade for Woking in Conference South and making trips to the likes of Weymouth and Dorchester.

However, Arter’s £4,000 move to Cherries in 2010 proved a turning point and two promotions later, the 25-year-old is in contention to battle with established Premier League stars such as Cesc Fabregas and Mesut Ozil.

It has been a remarkable turnaround for a player who almost turned his back on the game following his release by Charlton in 2009 and Arter hopes that his rollercoaster journey will inspire others in a similar situation.

He told the Daily Echo: “I have got friends who I still speak to from the lower leagues and it probably gives them a little bit of hope to see what I have managed to do.

“To go from non-league to the Premier League in five years is a really good story and will, hopefully, inspire players, especially youngsters that have taken the step down to non-league.

“My career shows that if you do work hard and get a few lucky breaks, then anything’s possible.”

Having paid his dues lower down the ladder, Arter feels his appreciation of Cherries’ top-flight berth could not be any greater. And the combative former Addick says he is far from an isolated case in the Dean Court set-up.

Arter added: “When I played in Conference South, the Premier League seemed a million miles away but having earned promotion this season, I appreciate it so much because of where I’ve come from.

“I don’t know what it would mean to someone to get promoted if they had played in the Championship all their life but I know what it meant to me.

“It was the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I don’t know whether that was entirely because of the journey I’ve had but I’m sure that played a part in it.

“Players that have been playing in the Premier League for all of their careers and even young players that have come through academy systems probably don’t appreciate how it is at other clubs or at a lower level.

“For me, I definitely appreciate how hard it is to be a Premier League player and that goes for the majority of players in our squad. There isn’t anyone that hasn’t had to work really hard to get where they are.”