Joe Vines admits he is eager to put his wayward days behind him after being named as Tooting & Mitcham captain for the coming season.

Defender Vines missed a number of games last season due to suspension, including a red card at Dartford in March when he acted as stand-in skipper for the recently-departed Allan McLeod.

But Vines insists that will not be the case this year.

He said: “Billy has given me the armband and that means a lot to me.

“I’m 28 now and I realise it is time for me to start leading by example.

“If it is a tackle then fair enough as there is no way that I am going to be anything other than a 100 per cent player.

“But it is all the silly cautions that I have to cut out - like dissent.

“At this stage of my career stuff like that should not be happening.

“I have a greater responsibility now and I cannot wait.”

Vines was part of the Terrors side that got their pre-season campaign under way on Saturday with a 3-0 loss to Championship side Reading.

Former Tooting starlet Michail Antonio starred for the Royals, capping a fine display with a goal.

And Vines admits Antonio is a great advertisement for the Imperial Fields side.

He said: “Michail is a prime example of what Billy Smith is all about.

“The way Billy operates is that if you are good enough you are old enough, and when Michail was given his chance he grabbed it with both hands.

“Billy and George have produced a number of good young players over the years, and it is great for all the youngsters here to have someone like Michail to look up to.

“If it helps attract people to this club then that is a massive bonus for us. ”