Fletcher is set for his 500th Cherries league appearance

Bournemouth striker Steve Fletcher has revealed his pride as he prepares for his record 500th league appearance for the Cherries on Tuesday.

The club's record-breaking front-man will reach the milestone, 17 years after first signing for the club, if he faces Dagenham & Redbridge.

The 36-year-old told BBC Radio Solent: "It means a lot to me personally as this is renowned for being my club."

Fletcher returned from Blue Square Premier side Crawley last month.

On what could be an emotional night, Fletcher added: "The satisfaction will come from getting the three points we need as as my 500th game.

"When you start out as a young player aged 16 you never think you're going to make a dozen appearances never mind 500 for one club.

At 36 years of age it's hard to get up and go to the gym. But coming back here has given me an extra incentive Bournemouth striker Steve Fletcher

"In the period I left to go to Chesterfield and Crawley, Bournemouth was still my club and I always classed it as that."

Fletcher has scored 88 goals for the Cherries in his time at the club and, overall with Hartlepool where he started his career, he is approaching 700 career appearances.

"I had a couple of chances in the late 1990s to move on but I didn't want to move. I was happy here. The grass isn't always greener," he revealed.

"This season is my 20th as a professional. It's hard now to keep in good physical shape. It takes dedication. At 36 years of age it's hard to get up and go to the gym. But coming back here has given me an extra incentive."

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