New signing Steffan Ball reveals the chance to revert to his preferred role as striker was the key to his recent switch to Tooting & Mitcham.

Ball, who jumped ship from Ramsgate following their recent relegation from the Ryman Premier, has been training at Imperial Fields with the view to a permanent move.

And the schoolteacher admitted that when Terrors boss Billy Smith offered him a lifeline he jumped at the opportunity.

Ball said: “Ramsgate had me playing out on the left wing last season and that was not something I enjoyed.

“I still scored nine goals, but I have always seen myself as more of a striker.

“When Ramsgate got relegated I made up my mind to leave as I really did not want to play in the Ryman Division One South.

“I have known Billy for some time and he always said to me if I was looking for somewhere to go to give him a ring.

“He is someone I respect and he wants to play me through the middle, so it was a pretty easy decision.”

Ball, who recently moved home to Battersea, is currently recovering from a heel injury and will take a low-key approach to pre-season training.

And the 28-year-old, best-known to local fans for an unhappy loan spell at Sutton United in the 2007/8 season, cannot wait to get started.

He added: “Tooting are a great club, with a lot of history and tradition.

“In many ways there are pillars of the non-league community.

“Now it is up to me to prove my worth.

“I’m really looking forward to getting started and forcing my way into the first team, and the target from there will be to score enough goals to help Tooting into the play-offs.”