Bumper crowd will help out cash-strapped Folkestone Invicta

Thursday 09th July 2009

FOLKESTONE INVICTA boss Neil Cugley has issued a rallying cry to get over 2,000 fans to Cheriton Road for Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Gillingham, writes Stephen McCartney.

A crowd of that proportion will certainly help the cash-strapped Ryman League Division One South club, especially when Dartford co-chairman Dave Skinner told www.kentishfootball.co.uk earlier in the week that Dartford’s games against Norwich City, Gillingham and Millwall will keep the Princes Park club going until Christmas.

Gillingham’s Wembley winners, preparing for life in Coca-Cola League One, have promised to send their first team squad to Cheriton Road on Saturday - and Cugley, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, is thankful to Mark Stimson for their much valued support.

The Gills were expected to travel to Tonbridge Angels, but the game was cancelled last week due to the pitch at Longmead Stadium not being ready in time.

And Cugley said: “We’re looking forward to that, a little bonus game.

“We’re delighted that they offered us the game, obviously they’ve made us rush around a bit and get everything ready, but sometimes that’s a good thing as well.”

Cugley’s men have had only four training sessions ahead of their hastily arranged opening friendly.

“We’ve got a lad called Billy Sommerville, who was with Gravesend as a youth team player and was down at Hythe towards the end of last year. He’s impressed in training,” said the long-serving Cugley.

“Kieran Mann, the goalkeeper, has come back from Uni so that will be good as we’ve got two good goalkeepers in the club (along with Jack Delo), so things are positive like that without going mad, because we can’t offer anyone anything yet, so I’m pleased with what I’ve got.”

Summer signing Michael Yianni is also expected to play some part against the Gills.

A lack of communication from the club is worrying, especially considering the club’s precarious financial position, but Cugley is “fairly confident” that his side will kick-off their Ryman League Division One South campaign on 15th August.

When asked what the latest situation is, Cugley replied, “I don’t really know, there’s still ongoing meeting’s. I don’t know until next week when we’ll know a bit more really.

“I’m fairly confident that we’ll be in the Ryman League. I just have to think like that and get on with it really.”

Speaking about budgets, Cugley said: “Nothing’s been really sorted budget wise yet. The players have been really loyal and hopefully things will be sorted out.

“I think we’ve got, of the 16 on Saturday, 12 are our lads who have come through our youth system, so it’s quite pleasing and it shows that’s maybe the way we’ve got to go a little bit.

“The only thing we might have on other teams is we did our (pre-season) last November, although it was disappointing when it (losing key players due to budget cuts) happened.

“But we could throw some of our lads in, to give them 20-30 games, that they’ve learnt from and they’ve come back as first team players rather than reserve team players.”

Meanwhile, striker Jacob Arnold-Smith, will not be playing against the Gills on Saturday.

Arnold-Smith, who ended a successful loan spell with Folkestone from the Gills towards the end of last season, has opted for a move to Scotland to study for four years and has therefore declined Cugley’s offer to stay at the club.

“He was one of the strikers I was chasing and it is a disappointment not to get him because he did do well for us last season,“ Cugley told www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk.

“We can understand his reasons for not wanting to stay in this area and the off the field issues we have at the minute gave the other forward I was interested in doubts about coming down which you can't blame him for and he was honest about it - it's not the easiest of times to attract players. Jacob has made a big decision and we wish him all the very best in his studies and football.

“We do have other options up front in the squad as it stands; James Everitt has said he's keen to play up there, Yianni can play there too so we'll be seeing how players perform pre season before deciding whether to go after other attacking players.”

Arnold-Smith explained that he has been given the chance to turn professional with Falkirk.

“Well I'm off to Scotland next Thursday, to Sterling Uni where I'll be studying Law, History and Sports Studies,” Arnold-Smith told www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk.

“The Uni system in Scotland is different to England where in the first year you try out different subjects and then drop a couple and take on one.

“But alongside studying there I'll get to train everyday with Falkirk FC with their reserves and if I do well then they'll give me a trial with a chance to go pro.

“On a Saturday I'll be playing in a semi pro league in the Sterling area and Wednesdays I'll hopefully be playing in Falkirk's reserves.

“I'm on a scholarship there so everything is paid for me and that's why I couldn't turn down the move because it's not something I could get from Folkestone and Canterbury Uni.

“I loved it down at Folkestone last season and the players were great, Cugsy was well alright and I loved the banter you got from the fans which was a laugh.

“I was literally split between the two and I had it all planned out; I had a place at Canterbury and I was set to join Folkestone but then Falkirk came in. They'd been watching me and they were interested and after meeting their manager and people from the club they made their offer.

“I spoke with Cugsy earlier and he said it was something I couldn't turn down and if it didn't work out I could always come back but if I didn't take the chance then I'd never know what I could have gone on to.”

Tickets, available at the turnstiles, are available on the day at £8 (adults) and £4 (concessions).

Visit Folkestone Invicta’s website: www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

Folkestone Invicta v Gillingham

Pre-Season Friendly

Saturday 11th July 2009

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Cheriton Road, Folkestone, Kent CT19 5JU