He's known as the grumpy old man of the Bohemians dressing-room.
But Derek Pender reckons the kids will be alright with a little help from their elders.
Keith Long is working wonders with the Gypsies again as a youthful Bohs side have hit second spot behind bitter rivals Shamrock Rovers in the Premier Division table.
Pender laughs at the age difference between himself and the likes of under-19 international Andy Lyons, who is still wearing his school uniform when the 34-year-old picks him up for training.
"They're all so young, they're all like teenagers in the dressing-room now," said skipper Pender.
"There's a number of them about to turn 21. I do feel like their dad sometimes, it's funny!
"We've lost big characters in the dressing-room, with Sups (Shane Supple), Morro (Ian Morris) and a couple of others leaving.
"But others, like Rob Cornwall and Wardy (Keith Ward) have all accepted a bit more responsibility and taken it on. They've dug in and helped the young lads.
"They'd relate to them more than I do - I'm just a grumpy old man, as they call me.
"But because the team is so young, that's why we still have to be a little bit patient with the lads.
"They've obviously come back here and had a good start, but it's a long season and in the times when we may go through a bad patch, we have to back them.
"You still have to trust them and encourage them to get back to the level they're normally at.
"They're enthusiastic every week, they love playing the games and hopefully that will continue on."
The vastly experienced full-back is happy with what he calls the "decent" start made by the club, and acknowledges the old school look about the top of the table.
"The fans are loving that," Pender remarked. "If ourselves and Rovers are up there fighting it out at the end of the season it will be great for the league.
"It's early days and we're not getting carried away. We know how tough the league is but we'll just keep trying to pick up points, you never know where it will leave you. We just need to get a bit more consistency."
Long has made a habit of making Bohs very competitive despite a lack of resources compared to some of the club's rivals.
The key? "Hard work, really," said Pender. "I know we're part-time and probably don't have the resources other clubs have, but we don't use that as an excuse.
"We get our heads down, work very hard in training every night. Keith and Trevor (Croly) demand a lot from us - and they get a lot out of us, which is all they can ask for, really.
"That's what we give them every Friday. It's about getting results and every week is a battle. That's why you're delighted when you do get a win, because it's so hard.
"You look at the games against the big teams and with the big crowds, it's great to play in them and everyone seems to up it. But it's the other games that you have to win, like this one at Finn Harps."
And Pender says that, on a personal level, he can never relax.
"I have to be on my toes now with all these young fellas," he said. "There's competition in every position and, captain or not, you can't take it for granted.
"There are lads wanting to play every week and disappointed when they don't.
"Andy's an under-19 international and Michael Barker was unfortunate with the injury he had at the start of the season. So I know I have to work as hard as anyone else.
"Keith has a problem picking the bench every Friday night now, which is great for the club but probably a headache for him.
"But that's what we have to do, to drive each other on."
Trevor Clarke has the spark to follow Jack Byrne into Republic of Ireland squad
