KWESI Appiah has the chance to follow in the footsteps of one of his boyhood heroes after landing a dream move from Margate to Crystal Palace.

The 35-goal striker joined the Eagles for an undisclosed fee on transfer deadline day.

The 21-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal at Selhurst Park, ending weeks of speculation surrounding his future at Ryman League Premier Division Margate.

Arsenal fan Appiah grew up watching Ian Wright, who was given his break in the professional game when Palace snapped him up from non-league football.

Appiah, who has left his job as a customer services officer with Transport for London, said: "This is a dream move for me.

"I met the gaffer (Dougie Freedman) on Tuesday and it didn't take much to sell the place to me. It felt like it was meant to be.

"Following in the footsteps of Ian Wright is all part of the dream. He was a hero of mine growing up. He started his career late and went on to become a legend at Crystal Palace and Arsenal.

"You could say we have similar attributes as players but that's for other people to decide."

Appiah turned down a move to Blackpool a fortnight ago.

The deal broke down over personal terms but there was no way the south London lad wanted to miss out on Palace and the chance to learn from former striker Freedman.

He is confident he will bridge the five-division gap between the Championship and Ryman Premier.

He said: "The jump didn't come into my mind. At the end of the day it's football and if you have the ability then you can shine at any level, as long as you work hard, stay focused and listen to advice.

"The manager was a striker, so I couldn't be in better hands. He'll help me and I can learn a lot from him."

Appiah, who has ambitions to play for Ghana, insists the move to Palace won't go to his head.

He added: "If I can shine on the stage I'm at now then hopefully I can take that step with Ghana but for now I want to concentrate on my club form and break into the Palace team.

"I hope the move will change me as a player but not as a person. Everybody who knows me will tell you the kind of guy I am. I'm not one to lose my head or get over-excited, I'm an honest, humble person.

"It's always been my dream to play at the highest level possible and now I'm one step from the Premiership.

"I'm going to maintain the focus I've had since day one and do my best to adjust to being a Championship player. It's not like I'm the first player to move up from non-league."

Margate manager Chris Kinnear offered his best wishes to his departing striker, although he was disappointed with the fee Margate received.

He said: "I'd like to think he'll do well at Palace, there's no reason why he shouldn't. Good luck to him, he'd been at a lot of clubs and not done anything but Margate was the right place at the right time.

"We treated him well and gave him a chance to flourish.

"We didn't get the fee we were hoping for. Palace were a little bit mean with what they were prepared to give us.

"It was nothing like the money on offer from Blackpool but once a player makes up his mind he wants to go, you have no choice."

Appiah was not the only non-leaguer to join the Eagles on transfer deadline day, with Dougie Freedman also snapping up sought-after defender Michael Chambers, who, it had been rumoured, was on Manchester United and Tottenham's radar.

The youngster joined from Ryman League Division One South high-flyers Dulwich Hamlet having risen through their academy under the watchful eye of Gavin Rose.