12thoct05

Wednesday 12th October 2005

Glover's move to Heybridge suits everybody, admits Cugley
EXCLUSIVE

Folkestone Invicta manager Neil Cugley admitted Simon Glover's move to their Ryman Premier League rivals Heybridge Swifts earlier in the week has "suited everybody", writes Stephen McCartney.

The 23-year-old striker made a total of 54 starting appearances for the Kent club and a further five as a substitute, scoring 16 goals after joining from fierce rivals Dover Athletic during the summer of 2004.

He scored Invicta's goal at Heybridge in last season's Bryco Cup tie before they were knocked out on penalties.

Son of former Welling United stalwart John Glover, he has also played for the Wings, and spent a loan spell at Ashford Town towards the end of the 2003-04 campaign.

In an EXCLUSIVE interview with www.kentishfootball.co.uk, Cugley finally allowed Glover to make the switch to Scraley Road.

"They came in for him during the summer period," revealed Cugley.

"We said at the time we weren't that keen for him to go and we wanted a small fee. Heybridge said they wouldn't pay a small fee so that was the end of it.

"However, after we played Billericay they realised he was substitute so they came back for him.

"I put it to Simon and he felt it was time to move on. He can play wide left there and that suited him.

"Here at Folkestone we are not able to afford to have an expensive (substitutes) bench.

"It suited everybody, we get some money for him and save on his wages, and if need be, we can bring someone else in, if and when we need to."

Invicta stretched their impressive recent run to six wins and six clean sheets from their last seven matches as goals from strikers Paul Jones (2) and James Dryden gave Cugley's side their biggest win of the season so far at Walton & Hersham last night.

John Guest was to be involved in all of Folkestone's significant attacking play at Stompond Lane during the first half and can claim assists for their opening two goals.

"John's playing well and the results have turned around since he's been playing," praised Cugley.

"Paul Jones is also playing well, making us a little bit stronger. The joys of being manager at Folkestone, with a small squad, makes it difficult but we can compete with anybody."

Folkestone climbed up to fourteenth place in the table - one place above Kent rivals Margate, and Cugley beamed "It's always nice. It just shows how much we've come as a club in the last few years with a lot of hard work within the club.

"There are not too many clubs higher than us in Kent and that's all down to the hard work from many people at the club."

Speaking about Walton & Hersham - who were knocked out of the FA Cup by Kent side Ramsgate at the weekend, Cugley added: "They were a difficult side to play, very direct and large.

"We scored the goals at the right time to be honest and defended brilliantly in the last twenty minutes when they threw everything at us."

Cugley will be doing his homework on Saturday's opponents, Whyteleafe, when they tackle the Ryman League Division One side in the FA Trophy First Qualifying Round at the Buzzlines Stadium on Saturday.

Cugley admits his own personal record in the competition as "tremendously bad", and will be hoping his players bank a much needed £1,300 for the club with a victory, and secure another home tie, against either Tooting & Mitcham United or Wealdstone in the next round.

"I've never really done well in the Trophy," he admitted. "I've never been at a high club where you felt we could do well in it.

"It's one I just suppose I don't enjoy. I just hope we get through a few rounds and play a big club - we don't have any intentions to win the thing."

One thing you can count on Folkestone is to win on home soil and that was the case in the FA Cup last Saturday, when Staines Town were beaten 2-0 to set up a fourth and final qualifying round trip to Aylesbury United on 22 October.

And Folkestone Invicta are just one win away from playing in the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time in their history.

"We are quite pleased with the draw," admitted the Invicta manager. "In some ways it's a long trip into the unknown.

"Aylesbury are the same standard as us and it's a very close game and a hard one to call."

"Our record last year was very poor away from home and we are starting to rectify that but I think we will definitely improve our away record this year."

With only Matt Bower and Kevin Watson injured, James Everitt, who needed two stitches for a cut eye on Tuesday night is expected to play against Whyteleafe.

Martin Chandler will be playing for the reserves tomorrow (Thursday) night in their home game against Sittingbourne, which will bring Cugley's squad up to twelve, with the club's talented crop of youngsters warming the substitutes bench.

Cugley revealed Watson will be back at the end of the month, which will give him more cover at the back.

FA Trophy Payments
First Qualifying Round Winners: £1,300
Second Qualifying Round Winners: £2,000
Third Qualifying Round Winners: £3,000
First Round Proper Winners: £4,000
Second Round Proper Winners: £5,000
Third Round Proper Winners: £6,000
Fourth Round Proper Winners: £7,000
Semi-Final Winners: £16,000
FA Trophy Winners: £50,000

Folkestone Invicta v Whyteleafe
FA Trophy - First Qualifying Round
Saturday 15th October 2005
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Buzzlines Stadium, Cheriton Road, Folkestone

* www.kentishfootball.co.uk grant permission for Folkestone Invicta FC to use this article on their official website www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk and inside their match day programme if they want to use it. But please, as usual, credit www.kentishfootball.co.uk

For other websites and newspapers, please email stephen@mccartney2000.fsnet.co.uk. where editor, Stephen McCartney would be grateful for a donation to cover costs. Cheque - made payable to Stephen McCartney - should be sent to: Stephen McCartney, 9 Birch Way, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3DA