Cugley expected to draft in work-experience pair

Wednesday 09th December 2009

FOLKESTONE INVICTA boss Neil Cugley says the possible arrival of two unnamed youngsters on work experience from Gillingham has come at the right time, writes Stephen McCartney.

The pair‘s identities, who Cugley wants to keep under wraps for now, featured in last night’s friendly 2-0 win at Kent League strugglers Lordswood, and are expected to be drafted into the Folkestone squad for the month ahead.

“We just wanted to get a few lads games who haven’t been playing,” Cugley told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We were looking at a couple off lads from Gillingham’s youth team who might be able to get involved over the Christmas period.

“No names, one or two lads that we were looking at to maybe take on work experience for the Christmas period. They might be quite handy. Gillingham like to get them (youngsters on work experience) out at that period as they don’t have any games so we’ll see how that progresses.”

Folkestone Invicta remain at the summit of the Ryman League Division One South table and welcome fourth-placed side Walton & Hersham to Cheriton Road on Saturday.

“I think it will be quite an open game,” predicted Cugley. “It seems to me that the teams at the top are fairly open with the way they play. It will be a good game, the top sides have been quite entertaining to be fair.”

Cugley added: “We’re working really hard, the luck is we’ve had no injuries, that would really finish us really. If we had a midweek (league) game yesterday then we would have struggled as we had two or three (unfit players).

James Everitt, Simon Austin and Josh Burchell are all expected to be fit enough to play following a well earned rest.

Cugley said: “We’ve had a lot of midweek games but they will be fit for Saturday. Saturday is the tenth game in a row where we’ve put out the same side so it’s been quite hard for the players.

“It’s good in some ways as you have great spirit and a great bunch of lads but it just takes your toll on your body with football being so fast but we’ve got through it.

“All credit to the players, they’ve got through that period now and it’s nice not to have midweek (league) games really.”

With the Christmas party season fast approaching, Cugley asks his young side to remain professional with their approach to games.

“It’s an awkward time for them to be fair, you ask them to behave themselves,” said Cugley. “We’re quite a young side so I don’t think their that way too inclined. They’ve got a great attitude, all I can say is to say be more careful what you do.”

Cugley admits things would be even more difficult if his side exceed the expectations of their manager and clinch promotion to the Ryman Premier League.

“I think it would be very difficult,” admits Cugley, “but that’s not my side of my job is it? My job is to get as high as we can and do the best we can.

“The trouble with Folkestone is it’s always been a yo-yo club. If we go up I think we wouldn’t run the way we are in the league above.”

Cugley admits it will be very difficult to bring in fresh faces due to the club’s cash-strapped status.

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

Folkestone Invicta v Walton & Hersham

Ryman League Division One South

Saturday 12th December 2009

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Cheriton Road, Folkestone, Kent CT19 5JU