Cugley keen on securing Spiller deal

FOLKESTONE INVICTA boss Neil Cugley announced he was delighted with the physical shape of his squad when they reported for pre season training last week, writes Tom Marchant.

The players had three training sessions and will have another three this week before the first two pre season friendlies at Dover Athletic next Tuesday before welcoming Tonbridge Angels to Cheriton Road on Saturday, 19^th July.

"They've all been excellent, I'm really pleased with how they've come back,” Cugley told www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk.

“We went for a long run at the weekend and it was the quickest we've ever done it. Lee Dyson has taken them running up towards Hawkinge way, it has been hill work as he thinks it's important in developing stamina.

"But we've had the footballs out every session as well, it's not a case of just running. We've had three good sessions and the weekend one was quite a long one actually. They've all worked very hard."

The Folkestone manager said he was "very impressed" with the eight new signings he has made so far in a fresh faced squad.

"Jimmy Jackson for his age has been right at the front of all the running, he's showed what a good pro he is and Lee Gledhill has come in and really got the lads going,” beamed Cugley.

“He was obviously captain at Met Police before and he's had a good upbringing and that's coming through in his training as he's been excellent.

"But all the players have been good and I can't take anything away from them. The pace we've set for the running has been excellent, they've all kept together, they're all pulling together and there's a great spirit about the squad".

Cugley also revealed that combative central midfielder Lee Spiller is currently training with the squad.

Spiller, 29, spent the end of last season with Sittingbourne on loan from Ashford Town and is an experienced midfielder having plied his trade at Gillingham, Gravesend & Northfleet, Margate, Chesham United, Dover Athletic and Welling United.

"His attitude has been spot on, like all the players and he's done well, he's impressed me,” said Cugley.

“Obviously we want to see how he does in the pre season games and that will decide whether I go to the directors to see if we can push the boat out to get him.

“He does want to be at Folkestone though and he's shown that by coming down and he hasn't missed a session yet."

In addition to bolstering the midfield the Folkestone boss is also speaking to two forwards to provide competition in attack, one of which he is aiming to sign by the start of the season but he is keen to see how the club's promising youngsters perform in the pre season games before he ties up new deals.

And Cugley said: "Keiron Byrne has impressed me and he will definitely be involved and what you don't want to do is bring somebody in if you've got someone there already who can do that job for you. Burchy is another as well, so we want to look at the ones we've got."

Striker John Ovard, who made the step up to the first team squad last season making a handful of Ryman Premier League appearances, has trained with the squad but Cugley is aware that other clubs have been interested in signing the 28 year old.

He said: "There have been a couple of clubs where he might be more guaranteed a game and I think he's gone and trained with them as well.

“We're very open on that one and he's more than welcome to carry on with us but obviously he's at an age where he wants to be playing regular football at a good standard and if he gets an opportunity and takes it we can't blame him."

Signing a new goalkeeper to provide competition for Charlie Mitten following the departure of Luke Stonebridge to America on a four year Sports Scholarship is also something Cugley is keen to address.

He said: "We've got a goalkeeper in on trial as well but I haven't seen him properly yet to see whether he's up to the standard we want so we'll need to see him in a couple of games.

“Obviously we haven't done a lot of shooting in training yet, its been a lot of physical work so we're still early days on that one and I am still talking to people".

The first of the eight pre season friendlies commence next week, the first two against higher league opposition.

"In these first two if you win great but it's not important at this stage and I'll be mixing it about and going from there,” Cugley said of their trip to Dover Athletic.

“I don't want to get to the stage where it's a competitive game straight away, it's too early. It's more about players getting used to the ball again and getting back into it but we're not in a rush, we've not got a big squad so we have to be careful.

"They're (Dover and Tonbridge) both big clubs and sides that I think will be there, thereabouts in that league and it'll be a good early test for us."

Article courtesy of www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk