Folkestone Invicta defender Liam Smith on being the side’s skipper, still learning from his more experienced team-mates and adapting to National League South football

Defender Liam Smith is enjoying skippering Folkestone's side - but hopes captain Kevin Lokko is back to take the armband off him again soon.

Smith has led Jay Saunders’ side out on the pitch for most of the past month, with Lokko (collarbone) sidelined since he sustained an injury at old club Dover in a derby 4-2 FA Cup second qualifying round defeat last month.

Midfielder Alex Woodyard is Folkestone vice-captain but 26-year-old Smith has plenty of leadership credentials. He was club captain at Hythe Town under manager Steve Watt and also had spells skippering Sittingbourne when boss Ryan Maxwell was in charge.

“I’ve been club captain at a few clubs now but probably none as big as Folkestone,” said Smith. “I’ve kind of always been Kevin Lokko’s little right-hand man, anyway, next to him!

“I know Woodyard is the vice-captain but I have always been behind both of them. I’m quite proud of it.

“I enjoy it but, hopefully, Kev comes back soon.”

Smith has been around for some time now, starting his career under manager Steve McKimm with Tonbridge Angels, but still reckons he is learning plenty at Folkestone. Among his team-mates are Woodyard and Lokko, plus forwards Joe Pigott and John Akinde, who have plenty of Football League experience.

He said: “I have always said, as you get older, you have to use your experience.

“When you have players like Joe Pigott, Alex Woodyard, John Akinde and Kevin Lokko, with the levels they’ve been at, you have got to take that and use their experience.

“I have definitely learnt a lot from them.”

Invicta have made a decent fist of things so far under manager Jay Saunders in an inaugural season at National League South level.

Asked what he felt the difference between Step 3 and Step 2 football