The 52-year-old Wealdstone manager is something of a doyen of non-League football in the south of England with his 13-year spell in charge of the Ryman League side coming after hugely successful spells with Southall and Yeading.

It was as Southall manager that he set Ferdinand on the way to a career that would eventually yield 17 international caps and the fifth highest tally of goals in Premier League history. Likewise, at Yeading, it was Bartlett who nurtured the potential of Impey – the QPR, West Ham and Leicester City player, who went on to enjoy 10 seasons in the top flight – and future Brighton captain Charlie Oatway.

Such an impressive CV, which also includes leading both Southall and Yeading to FA Vase final appearances at Wembley and Wealdstone to four promotions, made Bartlett the ideal man to set Jermaine Beckford on the road to success.

Now 24, the Leeds United striker is the top scorer in all four divisions of English football this season and hot property. At the age of 17, however, his career had stalled following his release from the youth set-up at Chelsea.

Bartlett told the Yorkshire Post: "I first saw Jermaine when I was in charge of the County side and he stood out straight away. He had a great touch, bags of pace and was so relaxed that if he missed a chance, he never worried about the next one. Nothing fazed him at all.

"I have heard countless lads over the years say 'I am going to be a footballer' but I am never so sure. But when it came to Jermaine, I always thought he would make it – providing he knuckled down.

"His dad moved to another part of the country soon after Jermaine joined Wealdstone and I remember him saying 'look after him for me'.

"I really thought Jermaine could do well in the game, my only concern was if he was willing to apply himself enough. He had to be more professional over things such as being at every training session and being on time.

"If there was one area where he let himself down back then, that was it. I really feel he should have become a professional sooner than he did.

"I feel that is where Wealdstone had its biggest influence on Jermaine because we sent him out on loan (to Uxbridge) a couple of times to try and show him what was at stake.

"It was after the second time that the penny seemed to drop because his whole demeanour changed. And all credit to him for that because a lot of young lads with talent don't realise that until it is too late."

A fully focused Beckford, then working as a windscreen fitter for the RAC, soon started to make a name for himself and before long the scouts were making their way to Wealdstone. Trials at Brentford, Barnet and Yeovil Town followed before the likes of Charlton Athletic, Crystal Palace and his former club Chelsea started to show an interest.

Gwyn Williams, now Leeds United's technical director but then in charge of the scouting network at Stamford Bridge, recalls: "Jermaine dropped out of the system after being in an age group at Chelsea with players like Leroy Lita, Bobby Zamora, Ledley King and Paul Konchesky.

"He was very similar to Lita in that he drifted away for a time but came back. All credit to him for that.

"Chelsea had a look at Jermaine again after Gordon Bartlett, who I go back a long way with, tipped me off. I remember saying to the manager (Jose Mourinho) after watching Jermaine that he was better than anything we had in the Academy at the time, but that becoming a Premier League player is something else and it was probably better for him to develop elsewhere."

Beckford eventually chose Leeds from the 20-plus clubs chasing his signature in March, 2006, the striker moving north in a deal believed to be worth around £50,000.

It took a subsequent loan move to Scunthorpe United a little under a year later for his talent to truly blossom, Beckford netting eight goals in 18 appearances to help the Iron win the League One title.

Since then, however, the Leeds striker has not looked back with last season's 20-goal tally being followed by a devastating start to this term that has yielded 11 goals from just 10 appearances.

Bartlett, whose clubs as a player included Portsmouth, Brentford and Denver Dynamos, said: "I must admit I was a bit surprised when he opted for Leeds but you can't argue with how it has worked out. I think moving up north helped, as if he had joined Watford then he would have stayed in the same area."

Asked how far the United striker can go and if he can emulate the success of one of his former charges Ferdinand, Bartlett added: "I can't be the judge of that as I do not see him play every week any more.

"But, like Les, Andy (Impey) and Charlie (Oatway), I could tell from the start Jermaine had the ability to go higher. I am pleased for Jermaine and I regularly use him as an example to our scholarship boys as what can happen with perseverance.

"He is a tremendous role model who has applied himself in the right way. I would love to see him go higher."