Tooting & Mitcham United manager Mark Beard’s mission to create a dream team is quickly turning to reality after naming Wimbledon legend Kevin Cooper as his assistant manager.

Cooper, 35, AFC Wimbledon’s all-time leading goalscorer with 107 strikes in 95 games, was unveiled in the sunshine in front of more than 500 fans on Sunday at the Ryman Premier club’s Stripes end-of-season youth tournament at Bishopsford Road.

The former Charlton forward who played under Martin O’Neil at Wycombe Wanderers broke AFC Wimbledon’s record tally for a season with 66 strikes in the Combined Counties as the club began its rise to the Blue Square Premier. Last term he was a player/coach at title-chasing Chertsey in the Combined Counties after finally hanging up his shooting boots.

Cooper, who also turned out for Carshalton Athletic, Metropolitan Police, and Dover, said: “Its great to be working with Mark after playing together. We both love our coaching and want to pass on our skills and experience so this is a great opportunity. The set-up and potential here is second to none and our ambition is to be challenging for silverware next season and entertaining the fans as this club is really going places.”

Cooper adds: “We’ll be playing attractive football and that means goals. Both of us can’t wait to get started. The chairman Steve Adkins showed me and Mark the fantastic plans they have here to build on what’s already been achieved with the new ground and stadium. You can feel the enthusiasm and buzz around the place.”

Beard’s recruitment of Cooper as his right-hand man comes as he quickly sets about putting in place his key coaching staff.

The 35-year-old manager is vowing that his team will be among the fittest in the Ryman Premier after announcing the appointment of Chelsea’s Gareth Davies as fitness coach.

Beard, who has already used his contacts in the game to arrange preseason friendlies with Brentford and QPR with others in the pipeline, is delighted to have signed Cooper and Davies, saying: “We will have a quality coaching staff with Kevin and Gareth already on board now. Kevin’s reputation speaks for itself. Like me, he loves his coaching and he’ll look after the specialist training with the strikers.

“Gareth, who works with Chelsea, is key to the level of performances I’ll want from the teams we’ll build here and I have a top physio in mind who should be in place this week.

Beard also reveals that talks are now ongoing with two international players and a graduate of Glenn Hoddle’s Spanish coaching academy as he looks to confirm the Terrors as real challengers for bringing Conference football to Morden’s Bishopsford Road.

“We should know this week how they work out as I carry on assessing the current playing staff and look at all our options with the chairman.”

Chairman Steve Adkins said: “One of the reasons Mark got the job was his enthusiasm, vitality, knowledge and contacts within the game. He’s showed us already with the signings of Mark and Gareth that he means business so I am very happy to see such quick progress as the season will soon be upon us.”