Tommy Warrilow leads tributes for Neil Cugley's 1,001 match celebration party

TOMMY WARRILOW has paid tribute to the legendary Neil Cugley, who takes charge of Folkestone Invicta for the 1,001^st time tomorrow.

Warrilow has accepted Cugley’s invitation to join him at Cheriton Road for the club’s final championship-winning Ryman League Division One South game of the season against Tooting & Mitcham United.

Cugley has invited past and current players, managers and friends to celebrate his milestone.

Warrilow, who pulled off The Great Escape by keeping Cray Wanderers in the Ryman League Division One North with a club record 10 wins from their last 10 games last April, said: “I’m looking forward to celebrating Cugley’s managerial milestone tomorrow with him.

The former Tonbridge Angels manager added: “What an amazing achievement to manage at one club for 1,000 games! Through ups and downs he has seen it all, shown true professionalism and shows the measure of the man to still attract quality players to Folkestone.

“This season’s promotion is an unbelievable points tally too, which will be hard to beat for future champions.

“Congratulations Cugs and I hope it’s a fantastic day for you mate!”

Cugley celebrated winning the club’s maiden league title when struggling Walton & Hersham were thrashed 6-0 at Cheriton Road over Easter.

Cugley’s 1,000^th game in charge saw his side come away from Three Bridges with a 1-0 win on Wednesday night, courtesy of Ian Draycott’s 39^th goal of the season and his 82^nd goal in 108 appearances for the club since his move from Leatherhead during the summer of 2014.

Folkestone Invicta go into the final league game of the season having kept 20 league clean sheets in 45 league games and bagged an amazing 111 points, courtesy of 35 wins and six draws, scoring 99 goals, conceding 33.

The four play-off places were occupied by Dorking Wanderers, Hythe Town, Worthing and Corinthian-Casuals but Casuals have been deducted three points on the eve of the end of the season for fielding an ineligible player back in January.

A Ryman League statement said: “Corinthian-Casuals have been deducted three points for playing an ineligible player in the Ryman League.

“The Football Association upheld a decision by the League to deduct the points under Rule 6.9 for playing Dave Hodges in a 3-1 home win over Faversham Town on January 16 while he was still under suspension.

“Hodges was ruled to have been ineligible to play in the Ryman South fixture at a Ryman League disciplinary hearing on March 31 despite the club’s belief that they had cleared his suspension by not playing him in a county cup fixture.

“The FA’s decision is final and binding with the Ryman South table now reflecting the deduction.”

That costly blunder by the Surrey club now means Hastings United move up into the final play-off berth on 81 points, followed by Faversham Town, who travel to Hythe Town tomorrow, on 80.

Corinthian-Casuals said on their Twitter account: “Thank you for all of your messages of support this afternoon. It’s so gratefully received on this horrible day for the club.”