Folkestone Invicta boss Neil Cugley set to miss his 1,000th game in charge at Three Bridges to watch a very good player ahead of Ryman Premier League return

FOLKESTONE INVICTA manager Neil Cugley says he will not be at Three Bridges tomorrow – his 1,000 game in charge of the club.

The club clinched the Ryman League Division One South title over Easter and the 59-year-old has explained why he will not be in charge of the club in their penultimate game of the season.

“I’m still having (the names of) players thrown at me from all over the place, I’ve never known anything quite like it,” Cugley told www.folkestoneinvictafc.co.uk.

“I’m not back til Saturday and I’m then planning to watch a very good player who might be willing to join us in the Ryman Premier next season.

“That pretty certainly means I won’t be at Three Bridges on Saturday but I think, as we all know, the big celebrations being planned for my having completed 1,000 games here as manager will be tied in with our last game of the season, at home to Tooting & Mitcham on 23 April.

“I’ve invited as many of the players we’ve had here as I’ve been able to contact, as well as many old friends in the game.

“And, obviously, we want it to involve our own supporters and we’ll be closing the upstairs bar after the match so we can all go over to Stripes for a buffet as soon as we can after the game.”

Assistant manager Roland Edge and coach Jason Lillis – two former Gillingham players – will take over on the bench at Three Bridges tomorrow.

Folkestone Invicta, who have scooped 108 points from their 44 league games, are just two points away from setting a new points record for a 46-game season in Ryman League Division One South.

The club are keen to encourage more young supporters to Cheriton Road next season.

To encourage the next generation of supporters the club are – in conjunction with Shepway District Council – launching the Invicta Junior Passport.

The Passport will be available to anyone aged 18 and under and will allow the holder free admission to every home Ryman Premier League game next season.

Director Cliff Egan told the club website: We think this is a unique scheme to try and attract a younger support and with the club playing in the Ryman Premier League next season it is a great time to become a Folkestone Invicta supporter.

“We have listened to supporters who have asked if we could try to attract a younger support and have come up with this scheme which I hope proves that the club is listening to our supporters’ views and acting on them.

To obtain the passport youngers should apply to the club by emailing Cliff Egan, director of sales and marketing to cliffegan.fifc@gmail.com.

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