Mitchel Bergkamp's dream was to follow his famous father into the Arsenal team – especially after being serenaded by 60,000 fans packed into the Emirates.
As a seven-year-old, he had held dad Dennis’s hand as the Dutchman walked around the pitch, following his testimonial against former club Ajax. The game marked the official opening of the Gunners’ new stadium. That was in 2006. Fast-forward to the present day and you will find the now 24-year-old in the less salubrious setting of National League Bromley.
But it is testimony to the determination and drive of Bergkamp Jr that he is still following his ambition to eventually leave his own legacy on the game.
That is despite Arsenal cutting short a trial and Watford releasing him this month, after starting his career with Dutch side Almere City. He feels that England is his home, following his upbringing in London, playing for north London junior side Hadley Rangers and watching his dad, a feted member of Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles team.
“I would often watch him at Highbury and go to the training ground. I remember talking to the players there, like Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieria,” revealed Mitchel. “I can still remember my dad scoring against West Brom and spotting me in the stand and pointing.
“He has been amazing for me, he is my No.1 fan and has always been there for me. When I was younger trying to make my way in the game, it was difficult being compared to him all the time. I have to be my own player.
It was Ian Wright who persuaded his former club Arsenal to offer Mitchel, an attacking midfielder, a trial. And Dennis said: “I would never say you have to play Mitchel because I’m Dennis Bergkamp. In many ways, though, he has had to do more than the other players. It has made him stronger.”
Strong enough to overcome Arsenal not keeping him on, although they did help him earn a contract with Watford. He joined on the same day as Maurizio Pochettino, son of former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Earlier this month he was released, but then joined Bromley whose manager Andy Woodman knows all about Mitchel from his time as a goalkeeping coach at Arsenal.
Woodman said: “Having seen him at close quarters, I knew he would fit into our group here at Bromley. But this is not a publicity stunt. He’s got to train hard, get match-fit and earn a place in the side. He knows all that. He doesn’t have an ego, he just loves football. He ticks all the boxes.”
His father will always be around for any advice adding: “Mitchel has always felt more English than Dutch. He loves the culture, the country. He has fitted into the English way of life since day one.” Now it is a case of fitting into an ambitious Bromley side going for a promotion play-off place.
