LIAM Feeney could be forgiven for getting ahead of himself as his train rolls into Wembley Park.

A little over three years ago, a trip to the national stadium seemed a million miles away as Feeney plumbed the depths of non-league.

An unforgettable journey, however, has taken the flying winger from the bowels of Conference South to the upper reaches of League One.

Starting out as a teenager at Hayes, Feeney was in good company with Cyrille Regis, Les Ferdinand and Jason Roberts all Missioners old boys.

A fruitful spell in the Conference with Salisbury, punctuated by a brief stop at Southend, followed before Feeney became one of Eddie Howe’s first signings in January 2009. At the time, Cherries were 10 points adrift of safety in League Two and an immediate return to the non-league ranks looked a distinct possibility.

“It might have seemed like a gamble but I didn’t see it that way,” said Feeney, speaking to the Daily Echo this week as he boarded a London Underground train at Uxbridge.

“I knew Marvin Bartley and Mark Molesley from my time at Hayes and spoke to Marv a lot before I signed. He was always telling me how great it was. I wouldn’t have signed if I thought the club was going to go down and had every confidence we would get out of it.

“I still pinch myself every day. I think where I could have been if I had stayed at Hayes (now Hayes & Yeading) or Salisbury. It’s surreal how quickly I’ve jumped up, personally, and how we’ve done as a team in the past couple of seasons. I’ve loved every minute of it and am just so grateful that I’m doing what I am.”

Although Feeney understandably took time to adjust to the rigours of life in the professional ranks, the 23-year-old has missed only two of Cherries’ past 60 league games and has been ever-present this season. Now settled in Westbourne, he regularly visits his parents and younger sisters Gemma and Nicole at the family home in Uxbridge.

“We’ve got a great conditioning coach in Jon Dalzell and training is geared to keeping everyone as strong and fit as possible,” said Feeney, as his train reached Ruislip Manor. “We are managed well and I think it shows in our performances.

“League One is all new to me, as it is to a few of the boys, but I think we have taken it in our stride and are doing well.”

As his train heads for West Harrow, Feeney is asked why he thinks there is such disparity between Cherries’ home form and their away results.

“It’s down to the step up in class,” he opines. “We’ve had some of the toughest away games you could have asked for. I think it’ll be fairer for people to judge after Christmas when we’ve played a few more games.

“We haven’t done too badly. We beat Tranmere and drew with Huddersfield and Brighton. Before the season started, some people may have written off those games but we went into them with high expectations. I’m sure our away results will improve as we continue to adjust to the league.”

Feeney’s next stop is Harrow-on-the-Hill, Anton Robinson territory. Close friends off the pitch, the pair are also embroiled in a personal duel to score most goals this season. The current tally of three-nil to Robinson makes grim reading for Feeney.

“We have a bit of banter about it and he’s been giving me some stick,” said Feeney. “We both worked hard on our finishing in the summer and it’s paying dividends for him. I know he’s hoping I will get one soon and I know he will be the first to celebrate with me. I’m working hard and am confident the goals will come.”

Come May, Feeney will be hoping his next stop is the Championship – or at least Wembley Park.